Highlife legend Paapa Yankson has died at the age of 72.
The Ghanaian legend has been sick for four months and was bound to a wheelchair.
He has many hit highlife songs to his credit. He was key to the establishment of music bands such as Western Diamonds, Gold Nuggets, and Carousel Seven.
His performances have been across the globe including Europe, the Americas and Africa. He was honoured at the 2017 Ghana Music Awards with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Some of his hit songs include Show Your Love, Wo Yere Anaa Wo Maame, and Wiase Mu Nsem.
Profile
Benjamin Paapa Kofi Yankson was born on June 22, 1944 at Winneba in the Central Region. His latent music flair was discovered at the funeral of a neighbour. He landed his first music contract during his mother’s funeral and for more than 30 years, Paapa Yankson has produced music that has brought life to many dead souls.
Even though both of his parents were musicians, they didn’t want him to take up singing. Instead, they wanted him to have a white collar job. His father, Benjamin Akono Yankson, was a reputable trumpeter with the Apam Brass Band while his mother Akua Doma, a trader, was a member of the Christ Little Band of the Methodist Church. According to him, anytime his mother sang while doing her house chores, he sang along with her.
He was instrumental in the projection of music bands into critical national acclaim – the Western Diamonds Band, the Gold Nuggets Band, and the Carousel Seven Band.
He has lectured and performed in many countries around the world including the US, Canada, Belgium, Britain, Germany, Holland, Nigeria, Benin and the Ivory Coast.
Source: Ghana/AccraFM.com
