ACE HIGHLIFE musician and the president and founder of the Highlife Institute, Ben Brako, is currently working on a huge musical project titled ‘Sing A Happy Song’, that promises to rock the global music scene to its foundations and place him among Ghana’s creative iconic ambassadors.
A key component of this “musical explosion” is the contribution of the world class superstar, Hugh Masakela of South Africa, who recently passed by Scratch Studios in East Legon, on his way to London, to add his trademark trumpet melodies and voice to the sound track.
With Ben Brako on lead vocals, ‘Sing A Happy Song’ features several celebrated musicians including keyboard maestros Carlos, Sakyi and Bessa Simons; golden voice, Pat Thomas; veterans, Amanzeba Nat Brew and Shasha Marley; hiplifers, Wutah and Obuor and other top stars including Nana Fynn, Paulina Oduro, Gloria Dwamena, Noble Nketiah, and seasoned instumentalists including guitarist, Ackah Blay; trumpeter, Osei Tutu; bassist, Shabo; voice trainer, Freeman, of Scratch Studios and many others.
The project, primarily for charity purposes, is under the theme ‘The African Renaissance and the Hopes and Dreams of the African Child for a Better Tomorrow’.
Its inspiration comes from the recent devastating earthquake in Haiti that destroyed several lives and resulted in untold hardships for many of its citizens, and the subsequent fright aroused by rumours of an earthquake in Ghana, causing great panic among its “unprepared” people.
Ben Brako, who achieved phenomenal success with his album, ‘BAYA’, in the 80’s, calls this new song Ghana’s answer to ‘We are the World’, and hopes to use the melodious and unique sounds of Africa to create awareness of problems plaguing the African continent- civil wars, diseases, disasters, etc. and the urgent need to find solutions to them.
The music is at the mixing stage at the top-notch Scratch Studios, where veteran engineer Kwaku Antwi is leaving no stone unturned to churn out a massive hit in the ‘Synchronized Soul’ (SYNCHOS) genre, a fusion of several sounds including Highlife, Calypso, Sukus, Zouk., Funk, Rock and Jazz.
The project has already attracted the support of key institutions including the World Bank, Ghana, and other corporate bodies, who identify with its laudable objectives which includes organizing live concerts with world class musical groups like OSIBISA, expressing solidarity with the people of Africa and people of African descent in the Diaspora, raising awareness of disaster prevention and management, and to crown it all, raising funds for institutions like the Children’s Hospital.
