Osibisa was formed in London, England in 1969 by Teddy Osei, Sol Amarfio and Mac Tontoh , together with Spartacus R (Grenada), Robert Bailey ( Trinidad), Wendell Richardson (Antigua), and Lasisi Amao ( Nigeria). The Ghanaian members already seasoned highlife artistes in Accra before moving to London to launch their attack on the world stage. They were joined soon by Darko Adams on percussions.
Joining them in the first incarnation were Grenadian Spartacus R (bass); Trinidadian Robert Bailey (keyboard); Antiguan Wendell Richardson (lead guitar and lead vocalist); and Nigerians Mike Odumosu and Fred Coker (bass guitar)
A founding member of Osibisa, Abdul Lasisi Amao helped bring the London-based band’s exciting style of Afro-pop and funk fusion to the international stage. His most innovative work, however, was the album Aiye — Keta, recorded in 1973 with Remi Kabaka on piano, drums, conga, rhythm guitar, Moog drum, and vocals; and Stevie Winwood (who was recuperating from an illness that had resulted in an extended hiatus from Traffic) on keyboards, guitar, and vocals. Amao and Kabaka had previously collaborated as members of Ginger Baker’s short-lived Afro-Anglo band, Air Force. Although the album, which was credited to Third World, included the now-classic tune “Happy Vibe,” the trio disbanded soon after it was recorded. While Winwood went on to continued stardom with Traffic and as a solo artist, Amao and Kabaka faded into obscurity.
Everybody … A Smile will Bring A Sunshine Day ! Thier Hit song
Their ground-breaking blend of African rhythms with Rock and Soul made their music appeal as much to the African as it did to the European or American. They played an integral role in developing an awareness of African music among European and North American audiences in the 1970s. Before Osibisa, Teddy and Sol had played with the Star Gazers and had a hit, Pete Pete with the Comets. Mac was also a member of the Uhuru Dance Band. Osibisa’s single, Music For Gong Gong became an immediate hit in 1970 with three others later making the UK Top 10: Sunshine Day, Dance The Body Music and Coffee Song.
Everybody … A Smile will Bring A Sunshine Day !
Jake Solo Was another Band member from Nigeria
In 1977 Jake Sollo returned to Nigeria to record his first solo album, Coming Home. His long-term band, The Funkees, had imploded in London. And his big break with the Afro super band, Osibisa, was cut short when he went on strike with Kiki Gyan and promptly got sacked. Rather than sit at a bar and feel sorry for himself, Jake returned to Nigeria and got his mates together – including the aforementioned Mr. Gyan – and headed into the EMI studios in Lagos. The result was Coming Home, a triumphant album that combined the raw power of The Funkees with the slick tricks he learned in London. The opening instrumental, ‘404’, is the track Carlos Santana would have recorded if he’d been born in Nigeria rather than Mexico. ‘Raise Your Hands’ and ‘I Just Wanna Dance’ are slick boogie monsters and ‘Deiyo Deiyo’ sees Jake displaying some mad synth skills on Africa’s only Prophet-5, a hot piece of hardware that was transforming music in Europe and America. Coming Home is the sound of an artist at the heights of his power. And a precursor of the skills and sounds that would make Sollo the most sought after producer in Nigeria. – Peter Moore