George Lee, born Kwame Narh Kojo Larnyoh began his long career in the international music industry when as an 18 year old bandleader, he was selected to take his band on tour with Louis Armstrong, during the jazz legends famed visit to Ghana in 1956. Already somewhat of a local popular music prodigy George went on tour to Nigeria a day after Ghana became independent in 1957. When he returned to Ghana three years later it was said that he came out of the jungle playing be-bop. He was one of the artists selected by the then President Kwame Nkrumah , to attend Ghana's prestigious arts and culture school for six months before being sent to the World Fair in Berlin Germany as Ghana’s cultural emissaries.
Led by George Lee, the famed Ghana Messengers played an eclectic mix of traditional music, high life and jazz during their 60’s European sojourn. Much to the surprise of visitors to the World Fair the Ghanaian musicians daily exchanged their traditional kente cloth and drums, for tuxedos and brass instruments to execute the international popular jazz tunes of the day with equal flair and skill.
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This product was added to our catalog on Wednesday 12 September, 2007.