FUNKY HIGHLIFE by CK MANN & HIS CAROUSEL 7

This album is the first in Mr Bongo's Classic African Recordings series ! * Vinyl LP includes MP3 download for all tracks on the CD version *C.K. Mann made his name as a virtuous guitar player in Ghana when he played with Moses Kweku Oppong in the Kakaikus Guitar Band in the early 60s. He then became the leader of the band Ocean�s Strings until 1966. In 1968, he enjoyed a hit with the single �Edina Benya�. Mann was known for blending authentic African music with European influences. He was inspired by Latin American music and created a style all of his own. He became known as the �King of Highlife� in Ghana in the 70's, when he released the record �Nimpa Rebre� featuring vocals from Pat Thomas and Kofi Yankwon. Funky Highlife came out of the Essiebons label run by Dick Essilfe Bondzie. According to Dick, this album could have been a massive hit in Ghana but the vinyl factories ran out of stock because of Ghana�s economic downturn, so the demand for the record could not be met. The album is a fusion of highlife and soul. The best-known track �Asafo beesuon� is a multi-layered, drum heavy, funk medley and is over 13 minutes long.