Ghanaian music is very sad. Ebo Taylor, an important musician, has died. He was a great guitarist. Taylor helped make highlife music famous around the world. He died yesterday. This was one day after a festival for his career began. It was also one month after his 90th birthday. His death ends an important time for African music.
Ebo Taylor was born in Ghana in 1936. He started playing music when he was young. First, he liked the piano. Later, he played the guitar. He played with famous groups in Ghana. This helped him start his own music.
He studied music in London in the 1960s. There, he met Fela Kuti, a famous Nigerian musician. They shared ideas about music. Taylor also enjoyed London's music scene. He liked classical music too.
When he returned to Ghana, Taylor made highlife music new. He mixed rhythms from different Ghanaian groups. He also used funk music rhythms. This made highlife sound fresh. In 2014, he said, "The funk music gave us a chance to develop highlife."
Many people know Taylor's big impact on African music. He is one of Ghana's best musicians. He worked hard to share Ghanaian music globally. His guitar playing was special.
His son, Kweku Taylor, said, "The world has lost a giant." He also said, "Your light will never fade." Ebo Taylor's death is a big loss. His music changed African music forever.