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Home World

What did The Rolling Stones and Osibisa have in common? Mick Jagger Testifies

by Kwesi Owusu
April 28, 2021
in Slide Stories, World
Reading Time: 3 mins read
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I paused the video, as I normally do when something else grabs my attention. Mick Jagger was singing his heart out on ‘Brown Sugar’, a big hit for The Rolling Stones in 1971. I probably wouldn’t have returned to the video if I was not so fascinated by Mick Jagger’s dance moves.

The pause was on the saxophonist who added to Jagger’s excitement in no small measure. It was Teddy Osei, the saxophonist who together with Mac Tontoh and Sol Amarfio led Osibisa, the Afro-Rock band to global success during the 1970s and ’80s.

Osibisa

 

 

I needed to find out more so I played back one of my old interviews with Mac Tontoh. The more I listened, the more I got mesmerised by a truly fascinating world – great stories and gems of information that gave me, at least, a more realistic view of the impact of African musicians on key components of British progressive rock music, particularly during in the 1960s and ’70s. In retrospect, Afro Rock and Progressive Rock were two sides of the same coin.

The world Tontoh created was one of the close creative interactions between black and white musicians, filtered through efforts to break down racialised perceptions nonetheless but strong enough to produce great music.  Other seminal figures were  Reebob Kwaku Baah, Rocky Kwasi Dzidzornu (Rocky Djon) Lasisi Amao and Remi Kabaka. The last two became members of Osibisa and they all performed together and with Rock bands such as Ginger Baker’s Airforce, Rolling Stones, Steve Winwood and Paul McCarthy’s ‘Band on the Run’.

Rocky Kwasi Dzidzornu (Rocky Djon) laid down the percussive groove on Rolling Stone’s ‘Sympathy for the Devil’, (‘Devil’s Banquet’ album’.”) even though Remi Kabaka, Lasisi Amao and others African drummers had been playing the beats at live performances with the Rolling Stones. Here is a clip from the celebrated “Stones in the Park” concert in Hyde Park, London, 1969.

The Afro rockers were mostly musicians with decades of previous experience in Africa – Teddy Osei, Kwaku Baah, Speedy Acquaye, Gasper Lawal and many others, forming British based groups like Osibisa, Assegai, The Funkees, Zebra and Blo.

Mac Tontoh of Osibisa
Famous African drummers – from Left – Sugumugu, Thebi Lipere, Nana Tsibi, Louie Moholo, Speedy Acquaye,xx, Julian Bahula, Kamara and Gasper Lawal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kwaku Baah, popularly known as ‘Rebop’
The seminal album with Steve Winwood

Back to Mick Jagger lol

“After the gig at The Roundhouse, Mick Jagger came backstage. Bianca was there too. Some good stuff and not too long after, she was Mrs Bianca Jagger. Stevie Wonder came to another gig. He said we played so well he could see us!  We were all over the place. Dzidzornu recorded with Ginger Baker and Taj Mahal. Lasisi Amao recorded with Jimi Hendrix. He must have been the last person to see him alive. That night, he saw him leave the studio with the girl with the bad dope. We went to America and met Frank Sinatra and all those Hollywood guys. Simon and Garfunkel did a cover of ‘Woyaya’ when we toured, and all that.  We did the soundtrack for the film, Superfly. That was when Teddy Osei was dating Chaka. Khan” Oh wow, I said to myself.  So many gems for a book or film or both.

So, Mick Jagger wasn’t a bad witness after all. I must pause my videos more often.

Next Post

Highlife is Ghana’s Musical Soul

Comments 12

  1. Pingback: Highlife is Ghana’s Musical Soul - Kwesi News
  2. Anonymous says:
    3 months ago

    Your comments are wrong Kwasi (Rocki) Dzidzornu was the percussionist on Sympathy for the Devil and he was also with Ginger bakers Airforce long before hooking up with Taj Mahal.

    Reply
    • Kwesi Owusu says:
      3 months ago

      You are right Rocky Kwasi Dzidzornu (credited as Rocky Djon) laid the percussion in the studio even though Remi Kabaka, Lasisi Amao and others had played the same beats at live shows with The Rolling Stones. I have corrected the relevant sentence and added a clip of African drummers performing the song with The Rolling Stones. Thank you.

      Of course, Remi Kabaka also played with Ginger Baker’s Airforce and other Rock bands Rocky played with. What emerges is a range of hugely talented African musicians working with and making a seminal impact on Rock bands. Rocky’s work with Taj Mahal was exceptional.

      Reply
      • Anonymous says:
        1 month ago

        Thankyou. I met all of the above and was present at some of the recordings. I have Osibisa’s first recording ((a white label album) somewhere!
        Rocki was my dad.

        Reply
        • Kwesi Owusu says:
          1 month ago

          Oh, that’s great to know. Rocki was a legend. Happy to share any materials you may have.Cheers!
          kwesiowusu2@yahoo.co.uk

          Reply
  3. Pingback: Jak Kilby : Memories of Friendship - Kwesi News
  4. Pingback: NANA TSIBOE : TRIBUTE TO A MASTER DRUMMER AND RELUCTANT GENIUS - Kwesi News
  5. Anonymous says:
    1 month ago

    Having read this I thought it was very informative. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to put this article together. I once again find myself spending way to much time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worth it!

    Reply
    • Kwesi Owusu says:
      1 month ago

      A pleasure to read from you. Cheers!

      Reply
  6. Anonymous says:
    1 month ago

    I’m often to blogging and i actually admire your content. The article has really peaks my interest. I’m going to bookmark your website and keep checking for brand spanking new information.

    Reply
    • Kwesi Owusu says:
      1 month ago

      Cheers!

      Reply
  7. Anonymous says:
    3 weeks ago

    Some truly interesting info , well written and generally user genial.

    Reply

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