Ghanaian highlife legend Ebo Taylor has died at the age of 90, leaving behind a monumental legacy that helped shape not only his country’s music but also the broader sound of modern African popular music. His family confirmed his passing on 7 February 2026, just a day after the launch of the inaugural Ebo Taylor Music Festival and roughly a month after his 90th birthday, though no specific cause of death was disclosed. Tributes have poured in from across Ghana and the global music community, with many describing his loss as that of a “giant” and a “colossus of African music.” 

Born Deroy Taylor in Cape Coast in 1936, Ebo Taylor rose to prominence in the late 1950s and early 1960s as highlife emerged as Ghana’s dominant genre. Over a career spanning more than six decades, he became known for blending traditional Ghanaian rhythms with jazz, funk, soul and early Afrobeat, creating a signature sound that resonated far beyond West Africa. His early bands, including the Stargazers and the Broadway Dance Band, established him as a gifted guitarist, composer, and bandleader, while his time in London in the 1960s exposed him to wider influences and collaborations that helped broaden his musical vision. 

Taylor’s influence didn’t end in the 20th century; in recent decades his work reached new international audiences. Albums like Love and Death (2008), Appia Kwa Bridge (2012), Yen Ara (2018), and his 2025 Ebo Taylor JID022 release forged bridges between generations of music lovers. Producers and DJs around the world helped revive his catalog through reissues and sampling, and his tracks have been sampled by major artists including Usher, the Black Eyed Peas, Kelly Rowland, Jidenna, Vic Mensa and Rapsody a testament to the timelessness and global appeal of his music. 

Musicians, cultural figures, and fans have shared heartfelt tributes, many highlighting how Taylor’s work laid the foundations for contemporary African sounds like Afrobeats while also influencing jazz, soul, hip-hop and funk. In Ghana, the Musicians Union (MUSIGA) described him as “Saltpond’s light Ghana’s legend the world’s icon”, while international figures recalled his role in expanding African music’s reach across continents. 

Ebo Taylor’s passing marks the end of an era, but his legacy grounded in innovation, cultural pride and musical excellence  will continue to inspire artists and fans worldwide for generations to come.