Bio

Leader: Laud Obuamah Addy History Nii Obuamah Addy, otherwise known as: Laud Obuamah Addy, was born 1950 in Kumasi in Ghana, West Africa. The family then moved from Kumasi to Accra, where his parents were originally from. Accra is the capital city of Ghana and his family lived in a small town called Avenor. His family settled down in his grandmother & grandfather's Medicine House, the ancestral home owned by his grandfather, Nii Akonofo Akoto Addy. This was one of the most powerful medicine houses in Ghana throughout the 1920's, 30's, 40's and 1950s. The Medicine House devoted to the art forms and cultural of traditional drumming, dancing & singing for ritual ceremonies. For Nii Obuamah Addy, also known as: OB Addy, growing up in a medicine house afforded him a unique opportunity to study authentic, traditional African music, dance and songs from his father, Nii Tettey Kojo Addy, who was also sharing this wisdom throughout the village. Nii Tettey Kojo Addy later on founded a group called Red Bunga which consisted of twenty-two members or players, including both the youth and the elderly of the village. As participants in a competition at the Art Council of Ghana, they won the best group of the year in1970. OB Addys father served in the British Gold Coast Ghana Army and retired as a Sergeant Major after eleven years and eleven days. Thereafter, when visitors stopped by the family home, this span of time was always mentioned. When the visitors had departed, young OB Addy teased his father by adding eleven hours and eleven minutes and eleven seconds, which always made his family break into laughter. OBs father Nii Tettey Kojo Addy was also the master drummer for OBs grandfather's Medicine House. As Master Drummer, his duties involved leading all musical healing ceremonies with accompanying musicians and spiritually healing songs and dances. The drummers and dancers involved were members of the Addy family, all of whom trained from early childhood. In the early 70s, his father advised OB as he knew how to get his son into the army or the police force, in order to help finance his education in those times of hardship. OB chose the police band because he found inspiration through listening to and enjoying their big band sound. He lived approximately 3/4 of a mile from the police depot where the police band rehearsed Monday through Friday. If OB did not hear the band rehearse Monday through Friday, it meant that they had an assignment somewhere or that they were on tour. OBs elder brother Kpeni Amo Addy, happened to be an old childhood friend to Mr. Gai Umfrien, the bass player of the Ghana Police Band lead by Inspector Techmenson. Mr. Gai Umfrien informed OBs father that the lead singer Lee Doodu of the Ghanese Police Band had put in his resignation letter. OB was then invited to audition for the lead singer vacancy. As a result of his successful audition, he was selected. Another boon was that during the performance, he was exposed to and embraced by the Ghanaian public. So, he decided to join a private band, becoming the lead singer of a small group named the Salty Seven and from that time on OB began to use his more formal name: Laud OB Addy. The Salty Seven played numerous concert openings for a variety of groups including: The Diplomats Dance Band that recorded a popular song Bele Kuku (meaning a broken pipe) The Rumblers International Dance Band lead by Mr. Jerry Henson The Tempos Band with E.T. Menson After two years with the Salty Seven, the young Laud OB Addy joined the Lord Bob Cole Band, which was sponsored by the Ghana's Ministry of Health, including work with residents of the state home for the developmentally disabled. Laud OB Addy was drawn into the West African high life musical style by the late Sir Lord Bob Cole, who was one of the leading musical stars of Ghana at that time. They taught handicapped children the high life and contemporary pop music while also touring throughout Ghana and other countries of West Africa. Next Laud OB Addy joined the Black Beat Band, with Mr. King Bruce, where he studied and performed high life music & jazz. In 1975, he was crowned as One of the Best Singers in Ghana and was given the name Magnificent Laud Addy. In 1977, he resigned from the Black Beat Band, forming his own group, which he named after his father's former group the Red Bungas. The Red Bungas traveled from Ghana to Loma, Togo, where Laud OB Addy performed for about one year. Then he was awarded a contract to travel to Lagos, Nigeria. While in Nigeria, he was afforded the opportunity to perform with the late Mr. Fella Ransom Kutu, the star of African Seventy This popular African Jazz Band also included Eddy Okonta, Frank Woren, and many more. While in Lagos, Nigeria, Laud OB Addy was awarded an exclusive recording contract with PolyGram Recording Company, Inc. After three years sojourn in Lagos, Laud OB Addy returned to Ghana and performed with the Sweet Talks Band, under the leadership of Jewel Akah, a very inspiring singer! With this band, OB toured West Africa for about one and a half years. After that tour, he joined the Sweet Beans Dance Band, which was the Ghana State (or Government) Band sponsored by the Ghana Cocoa Marketing Board. In 1983, Laud OB Addy resigned from it, traveling to the United States with thirteen other musicians, drummers, and dancers to join the Oboade Group now known as Odada, led by his uncle, Yacub Addy. Odada, travels throughout the United States teaching authentic traditional African drumming and dancing to elementary, high schools and colleges, while also performing at a variety of folk and jazz festivals. They also have performed extensively with leading jazz, blues and R&B musicians in many international venues including performances with: Ray Charles, B.B. King, Sly & the Family Stone, and many others. Most recently they toured the Southeast coast of the United States including: Congo Square in New Orleans, LA; West Palm Beach Florida; Miami Beach Florida; Clearwater Florida; Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Norfolk, Virginia; Washington, DC; and Rose Hall, New York. His latest appearance in April 2006 was in the world premiere of Congo Square composed by Wynton Marsalis,. OB performed a member of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra's concert series: Jazz at Lincoln Center, in New York City. In the summer of 2006, OB relocated to Rochester, NY, accepting a performing arts consultant position with ArtPeace, Inc., where he served as the senior Music Director for the young entrepreneur program. The focus of the program was on traditional West African, drumming, and songs with some positive hip hop within the African traditional rhythms. The performance venues included the Public Market on several Thursday afternoons, one show at the Vineyard and the final showcase performance at ArtPeace, Inc.