The Joe Mensah Foundation has announced the institution of an event to award live band musicians with the ultimate aim of reviving the live band culture.

The maiden Ghana Musicians Awards will hold in Accra next year, in consonance with the wishes of the late music icon, Joe Mensah, aka the ‘Bosoe Man’.

“This will be markedly different from the Ghana Music Awards in the sense that it focuses on musicians and live band music and not just recording artists; a lot of who do not actually play music”, said Kwesi Tabir Mensah, at a short ceremony in Brooklyn, USA to mark the 10th anniversary of his father’s death.

Joe Mensah rubbed shoulders with music legends like Guy ‘Ghanaba’ Warren and Osibisa to put Ghana on the world music map – he was instrumental in the massive export of Ghanaian music back in the 1960’s.

Joe’s hits include ‘Rawpawpaw’ and ‘Bosoe’ and he was an original member of the Ramblers Band before AB Crenstil joined the band.

Joe Mensah lived in the United States and represented the Ghanaian music scene there. While there, he started a radio programme on WKCR at Columbia University called Radio Africa, which till today showcases talents all over Africa.

He was also instrumental in the formation of the Ghana Musicians Union; serving as its first president and worked tirelessly to promote live band music as well as to improve the status and conditions of musicians.

Joe passed on 10 years ago. His son, Kwesi Tabir Mensah has since set up the Joe Mensah Foundation in a bid to preserve the memory of this great artist.

The Foundation seeks to complete some of the works Joe was interested in carrying on, including setting up an awards scheme to acknowledge the achievements and talents of musicians, especially players of instruments.

The Foundation also promotes an early childhood interest in music by supporting schools with musical equipment and tutoring to groom young talent.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh