Goodbye to Teddy Osei, founder of Osibisa

The Afro-rock band the Osibisa confirmed that the founding member, singer and saxophonist Teddy Osei he died at the age of 87.

A message posted on their Facebook page reads: “The members of Osibisa and the band’s management are deeply saddened by the death of their dear friend Francis ‘Teddy’ Osei.

Known throughout the world as the leader and founder of Osibisa, the revolutionary Afro-rock band, he was a man, a talented musician and a mentor to many. A talented saxophonist, drummer and singer, Teddy has found success but also satisfaction with his bands, particularly Osibisa. His was an important voice in music and culture and he will be missed, but never forgotten.”

The
Osibisa
they were instrumental in promoting the Afro-beat sound to white audiences, winning favor with progressive rock fans with their first albums in the early 1970s. A young man
Roger Dean
he created the band’s distinctive logo several years before designing the famous bubble logo for Yes, and also designed the covers for the band’s first two studio albums,
“Osibisa”
from 1970 and
“Woyaya”
of 1971. The band had their biggest success in Britain with
“Sunshine Day”
from 1975, from the album
“Welcome Home”
which peaked at number 17 on the charts.

After achieving some success in Ghana with his band, i

Comets
Osei left for London in 1962, studying music and drama on a Ghanaian government scholarship and forming the soul group
Cat’s Paw
. In 1969, together with his brother
Mac
Tontoh
ea
Sol Amarfio
of the
Cat’s Paw
formed the
Osibisa
who were joined by the Antiguan
Wendell Richardson
(lead guitar and lead singer), the Nigerian
Lasisi Amao
(percussionist), the Grenadian
Roger Bedeau
also known as
Spartacus R
(bass), and the Trinidadian
Robert Bailey
at (keyboards).

The band’s initial success waned in the 1980s, but the band continued to tour and make records. Osei suffered a stroke in 2010 and was forced to curtail touring, but remained active in the studio.