This is intended to be a homage to very many musicians I've loved since I started listening to music. My intention is to tell what I know about them, hoping that those people who like them too, will help me fill numerous gaps, which I may have in their careers and discographies. Sorry, but there are no MP3 audio files here at all, just info (and love for the musicians).


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Friday 27 August 2010

Mac Tontoh (trumpet)


BANDS:
  • The Comets
  • Uhuru Band
  • Bogart Sounds Sextet
  • Osibisa
  • Kete Warriors

BIOGRAPHY:

Mac Tontoh was a trumpet player born in Kumasi, Ghana, on December 25th, 1940. His real name was Kweku Adabanka Tonto, but he also had the nickname Kwaku Bronya.

Mac Tontoh



THE COMETS


His first band (still in Ghana) was The Comets, with his brother Teddy Osei, during the early 60s.

Don´t have more info about them, sorry:

THE COMETS #?
?
Mac Tontoh
trumpet
Teddy Osei
sax
Sol Amarfio
drums
+ others unknown to me. Help!


UHURU BAND


He then joined Uhuru Band, a sort of big band. With them, he toured several African countries.


BOGART SOUNDS SEXTET


He was also part of a shorter band, Bogart Sounds Sextet, with a few members of Uhuru Band.

He finally emigrated to Germany in 1968. This was followed by a stint in Tunis with Teddy Osei and Sol Amarfio. They finally settled in London, starting a new band, Osibisa.


OSIBISA



Osibisa. From left to right: Mac Tontoh, Loughty Amao, Sol Amarfio, Robert Bailey, Spartacus R, Wendell Richardson, Teddy Osei


I don´t know info about all the multiple lineups for Osibisa, so I´ll just mention a few ones...

This was Osibisa in 1976:

OSIBISA #?
1976
Wendell Richardson
guitar, vocals
Mike Odumosu
bass
Kiki Gyan
keyboards
Mac Tontoh
trumpet, percussion
Teddy Osei
sax, flute, vocals
Kofi Ayivor
percussion
Sol Amarfio
drums

This was the personnel for Osibisa that recorded the double live album Black magic night - live at The Royal Festival Hall in July 1977:

OSIBISA #?
1977
Wendell Richardson
guitar, vocals
Mike Odumosu
bass
Robert Bailey
keyboards
Mac Tontoh
trumpet, percussion
Teddy Osei
sax, flute, vocals
Darko Adams
percussion
Sol Amarfio
drums
Sonia Lekhela
backing vocals
Ntobi Mdudu
backing vocals
Linda Conco
backing vocals
Tiny Conco
backing vocals

This was the personnel for Osibisa around September 1982:

OSIBISA #?
1982
Wendell Richardson
guitar, vocals
Spartacus R
bass
Robert Bailey
keyboards
Mac Tontoh
trumpet, percussion
Teddy Osei
sax, flute, vocals
Loughty Amao
percussion
Darko Adams
percussion
Prinzess
percussion, vocals
Sol Amarfio
drums

This was the personnel for Osibisa around April 1983:

OSIBISA #?
1983
Kari Bannerman
guitar
Tony Etoria
guitar
Gregg Kofi Brown
bass
Errol Reid
keyboards
Mac Tontoh
trumpet, percussion
Teddy Osei
sax, flute, vocals
Darko Adams
percussion
Sol Amarfio
drums
Frank Tontoh
drums


AND THEN...


In 1992, he came back to Ghana, building his own recording studios.

He released his solo album, Rhythms and sounds, in 1994.


KETE WARRIORS


This was a band fronted by Mac, with African musicians. They toured England in 2000, followed by another tour in 2001. I remember I saw it also billed as Mac Tontoh Project.

After that, he retired from music and started working promoting the culture in his country, as well as working for kids who want to learn music.

He passed away on August 17th, 2010 at hospital in Ghana. He suffered a stroke, also had diabetes, so he came back to London for treatment at the beginning of 2010; he went through 4 operations but returned to Ghana 2 months before his death. He was 69.

DISCOGRAPHY: (24 albums known to me - Status: In progress)

OWN ALBUMS (2 credits)
  • Mac Tontoh´s African Machine - Mac Tontoh (1996)

  • Rhythms & sounds - Mac Tontoh´s African Machine (07/2005)

ALBUMS AS A BAND MEMBER (15 credits)
  • Osibisa - Osibisa (05/1971)

    • Members: Sol Amarfio, Teddy Osei, Wendell Richardson (RIP: Loughty Amao, Mac Tontoh)
    • Producer: Tony Visconti
    • Technical: Martin Rushent
  • Woyaya - Osibisa (05/1972)

    • Members: Sol Amarfio, Teddy Osei, Wendell Richardson (RIP: Loughty Amao, Mac Tontoh)
    • Producer: Tony Visconti
  • Heads - Osibisa (11/1972)

    • Members: Sol Amarfio, Teddy Osei, Wendell Richardson (RIP: Loughty Amao, Mac Tontoh)
    • Producer: John Punter, Tony Visconti
  • Happy children - Osibisa (1973)

    • Members: Sol Amarfio, Kofi Ayivor, Teddy Osei (RIP: Mac Tontoh)
    • Guests: Jean Roussel
  • Osibirock - Osibisa (1974)

    • Members: Sol Amarfio, Kofi Ayivor, Teddy Osei (RIP: Kiki Gyan, Mac Tontoh)
    • Comments: Recorded in the summer of 1974.
  • Super fly TNT OST - Osibisa (08/1974)

    • Members: Sol Amarfio, Kofi Ayivor, Teddy Osei (RIP: Mac Tontoh)
    • Guests: Mike Gibbs, Gordon Hunte
    • Comments: Soundtrack recorded by Osibisa in April 1973.
  • Welcome home - Osibisa (11/1975)

    • Members: Sol Amarfio, Kofi Ayivor, Teddy Osei, Wendell Richardson (RIP: Kiki Gyan, Mac Tontoh)
    • Guests: Ray Allen, Barbara Thompson
    • Comments: CD reissue contains bonus tracks.
  • Ojah awake - Osibisa (11/1976)

    • Members: Sol Amarfio, Kofi Ayivor, Teddy Osei, Wendell Richardson (RIP: Kiki Gyan, Mac Tontoh)
    • Guests: Graham Smith
    • Comments: Recorded in 1976.
  • Black magic night - live at The Royal Festival Hall - Osibisa (11/1977)

    • Members: Sol Amarfio, Teddy Osei, Wendell Richardson (RIP: Darko Adams, Mac Tontoh)
    • Comments: Double album, recorded live in July 1977.
  • Mystic energy - Osibisa (10/1980)

    • Members: Sol Amarfio, Kari Bannerman, Teddy Osei, Emmanuel Rentzos (RIP: Darko Adams, Mac Tontoh)
    • Guests: Candy McKenzie (RIP: Rebop Kwaku Baah)
  • African flight - Osibisa (1981)

    • Members: Sol Amarfio, Kari Bannerman, Teddy Osei, Emmanuel Rentzos (RIP: Mac Tontoh)
  • Unleashed - Osibisa (10/1982)

    • Members: Sol Amarfio, Kari Bannerman, Pandit Dinesh, Teddy Osei, Emmanuel Rentzos (RIP: Darko Adams, Mac Tontoh)
    • Comments: Recorded live in 1981.
  • Live at The Marquee - Osibisa (1984)

    • Members: Sol Amarfio, Kari Bannerman, Teddy Osei, Errol Reid, Frank Tontoh (RIP: Darko Adams, Mac Tontoh)
    • Comments: Recorded live in April 1983.
  • Movements - Osibisa (1989)

    • Members: Sol Amarfio, Teddy Osei, Frank Tontoh (RIP: Darko Adams, Mac Tontoh)
  • African dawn, African flight - Osibisa (11/2002)

    • Members: Sol Amarfio, Kari Bannerman, Teddy Osei (RIP: Mac Tontoh)
COMPILATIONS AS A BAND MEMBER (1 credit)
  • Best of - Osibisa (1974)

    • Members: Sol Amarfio, Teddy Osei, Wendell Richardson (RIP: Loughty Amao, Mac Tontoh)
SESSIONS (5 credits)
  • Look at yourself - Uriah Heep (1971)

    • Members: Mick Box, Iain Clarke, Ken Hensley, Paul Newton (RIP: David Byron)
    • Guests: Manfred Mann, Teddy Osei (RIP: Loughty Amao, Mac Tontoh)
    • Comments: CD reissue contains bonus tracks.
  • Skin deep - Peter Doyle (1977)

    • Members: (RIP: Peter Doyle)
    • Guests: B J Cole, Tony Hymas, Paul Keogh, Simon Phillips, Trevor Spencer, Alan Tarney, Geoff Whitehorn, Joy Yates (RIP: Mac Tontoh)
  • Che che kule - Eddie Quansah (1977)

    • Members: Eddie Quansah
    • Guests: Ray Allen, Kofi Ayivor, Colin Bass, Tony Braunagel, Jimmy Chambers, Dick Cuthell, Winston Delandro, Rosetta Hightower, Remi Kabaka, Junior Marvin, Chris Mercer, Emmanuel Rentzos, Jerome Rimson, Terry Wilson, Pete Wingfield (RIP: Rebop Kwaku Baah, Kiki Gyan, Mac Tontoh)
    • Comments: Trumpet player, he played in several albums where Chris Mercer also played. This must be his first solo album, recorded with Jimmy Chambers (vocals), Junior Kerr (guitar), Pete Wingfield (keyboards), Rebop (percussion), Colin Bass (bass, later in Camel), Jerome Rimson (bass, later with the late Phil Lynott), Terry Wilson (bass), Chris Mercer (bass), Kofi Ayivor (drums), Tony Braunagel (drums).
  • Don´t lose the feeling - Beverly Johnson (1979)

    • Guests: Sol Amarfio, Kari Bannerman, Kevin Kendricks, Teddy Osei, Emmanuel Rentzos, Chris White (RIP: Darko Adams, Mac Tontoh)
    • Producer: (RIP: Robert Wright)
    • Technical: Reggie Lucas
    • Comments: Osibisa appear in 2 tracks.
  • Bulles - Michel Polnareff (1981)

    • Guests: Mo Foster, Ricky Hitchcock, Graham Preskett, Frank Ricotti, Peter Van Hooke (RIP: Darko Adams, Mac Tontoh)
COMPILATIONS (SESSIONS) (1 credit)
  • Phases 1972-1982 - Blo (01/2002)

    • Guests: Ray Allen, Katie Kissoon, Liza Strike (RIP: Mac Tontoh)

RELATED VIDEO LINKS: 3
Disclaimer: I don´t own or upload any of the videos linked here. I just include links to live videos that are already available, in order to show the work of this musician. Anyway, if someone feels that some link shouldn't be included, please write me at the email address shown below. And if you know of more videos featuring Mac Tontoh, please, also write me with the link.
  • Osibisa - Music for Gong Gong (1974)
  • Osibisa live in England in 1974. (Resolution: 360)
    Featuring: Sol Amarfio, Teddy Osei, Mac Tontoh. Rest of the band unknown to me.

  • Osibisa - Warrior - Sunshine Day (1983)
  • Osibisa live at The Marquee in April 1983. (Resolution: 480)
    Featuring: Sol Amarfio, Kari Bannermann, Gregg Kofi Brown, Tony Etoria, Teddy Osei, Daku Potato, Errol Reid, Frank Tontoh, Mac Tontoh.

  • Osibisa - Fire (1983)
  • Osibisa live at The Marquee in April 1983. Superb quality. (Resolution: 480)
    Featuring: Sol Amarfio, Kari Bannermann, Gregg Kofi Brown, Tony Etoria, Teddy Osei, Daku Potato, Errol Reid, Frank Tontoh, Mac Tontoh.


RELATED MUSICIANS:

Mac Tontoh mostly worked with these musicians: (name + number of credits)
Teddy Osei (18)
Sol Amarfio (17)
Darko Adams (7)
Robert Bailey (7)
Jean Mandengue (7)
Wendell Richardson (7)
Kofi Ayivor (6)
Kari Bannerman (6)
Loughty Amao (5)
Ashley Howe (5)

Page created by Miguel Terol on: 27/August/2010 - Last modified on: 30/August/2010. If you want to contribute with info, please write to: molympus1@gmail.com

Please, note than you can check the indexes (musicians, bands, obituaries) at the top of this page.

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