Saka Acquaye's blog

Born in Accra, Ghana in 1923, Saka’s creative life began with music, as a popular leader of a Highlife band, Highlife is characterized by jazzy horns and multiple guitars. Recorded over 50 years ago the music still has the same propulsive energy as when it was first recorded at New York’s Columbia Hall in 1959.

Saka Acquaye would not have come to Elektra’s attention except for impresario Sol Hurok who toured the band and urged Jac Holzman to record them. The resulting album, Gold Coast Saturday Night, was later re-released by Elektra’s fraternal label, Nonesuch.

Remaining in the U.S. Saka Acuaye attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art and also UCLA, with impressive careers as sculptor, painter and textile designer. He died in 2007.