George Lee Larnyoh
George Lee Larnyoh
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About George Lee Larnyoh
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. Since then George's illustrious career path had taken him on stages, in theatres, in recording and television studios all over the world until 1986 when he decided to bring his skills and resources back home to Africa . This move followed an inspirational big band tour to Mozambique in 1984 where the realities of war in Africa and apartheid hit home. It was when he returned to London that the band ANANSI was formed and the first ANANSI LP was released . The 'A' side of the debut single 'Sea Shells' was adopted as the theme tune of the popular long running BBC tv arts programme 'Ebony' soon after it’s UK release . The timeless ANANSI album went on to achieve a measure of success in the UK music charts as a quality independent jazzy dance floor hit , several of the tracks have had a life of their own . Most recently the re-release of the track Lailaila on a compilation, 20 years after it was first recorded. In South Africa where he has lived since 1990 George Lee continues to be involved as featured composer, arranger, producer, M.D. or performer, in various corporate projects , for unions, in theatres, television, the community, various government departments and the diplomatic corps. As featured songwriter, producer and performer he appeared in the major Hollywood movie 'A Good Man in Africa' starring Sean Connery . George Lee is regarded as a jazz icon In South Africa and has been featured in a many made for television music programmes as well as being the subject of several television profiles, including the critically acclaimed 'Without Borders' produced by award winning Harriet Gavshon. He's also made many other TV appearances in special features on the role of the African Drum, African traditions etc... Theatre has also captured George Lee's attention more than once. Most productively in London in the seventies when he was called upon to put his talents and experience into co-adapting the Gilbert and Sullivan classic light opera 'The Mikado' which went on the become the world wide hit musical 'The Black Mikado' and he spent four years as the shows musical director at the Cambridge Theatre in London’s west end. In South Africa George wrote, arranged, directed, and performed the music for 'Kweku Ananse' a musical play that introduced Ghanaian folklore to South African theatregoers. In Kwa Zulu Natal he was closely involved with the musical direction of Khaba Mkhize's Vita Award winning play 'Pity!Maritzburg' the first community production to legitamise the Durban Playhouse Theatre in 1991 after years of cultural boycott. The first Wole Soyinka play performed in South Africa saw George as the musical supervisor of 'Death & the Kings Horseman'. His songs have been recorded by artistes in many parts of the world including Johnny Nash in the USA; South African Chris McGregor in France; and a range of singers from Ghanaians in Germany, to Nigerians in London, Americans in Canada and Mozambicans in South Africa. As a horns arranger and session musician George Lee often worked with the legendary Bob Marley in London and America. Just check out the tenor sax solo on Natty Dread and you will hear Georges horn loud and clear. He spent four years on the road across Europe and America with Johnny Nash when the original ‘I Can See Clearly Now’ was No.1 around the globe. He’s seen it all. Two of his South African development artists have recently recorded Lets Be Friends and Edge of Love, both songs he wrote for the legendary Johnny Nash that were released by the artist in the seventies. South African guitar superstar Jimmy Dludlu is a protégé of George Lee , as a teenager he spent 18 months living under George’s roof and mentorship in Swaziland, one of many young musicians around the globe that have benefited from his unwavering commitment to the upliftment of musical skills and disciplines. He never denies help to an artist serious about his craft, even now that he is so very ill. Skills sharing and mentorship is a way of life for George who maintains close links with the community, particularly Alexandra township in Gauteng where he trained and developed a group of mature student musicians over six years of free weekly workshops. This resulted in a creditable workshop band made up of taxi drivers, builders, council workers and other mature student musicians with a passion for jazz that they had never had the opportunity to develop until George Lee came along. The Maloke House Workshop Band with an exciting original repertoire performed at many significant functions creating strong bonds of friendship. In 1990 the beautiful countryside around Pietermaritburg South Africa , was referred to as the killing fields of Natal, it was the site of some of the fiercest battles for political freedom in South Africa . It is here that George and his wife settled after 4 years in Swaziland. He was to be one of the first African musicians in the South African classrooms, in the contrasting environments of Durban Girls High and the township school of Sobantu High in Pietermaritzburg . He has since conducted many percussion, sax, ensemble , African traditional , jazz and other formal and informal music workshops for adults and children. At the 1994 inauguration of President Nelson Mandela in Pretoria, George Lee led a tribute by over a hundred cross cultural drummers, a singular honour and undoubtedly a highlight of his stay in South Africa. A performance at the World Festival of Sacred Music in Capetown during the visit of the Dalai Lama , for His Millennium event in Africa , ended 1999 on a very high note for George as he had the opportunity to sing one of his own meaningful peace and reconciliation songs at this significant time. George Lee is probably one of the few people who voted at elections in the first African country to gain independence, Ghana1957 , and in the last country to gain independence , South Africa 1994. He was there and exercised his right to vote.. There are very many important moments and people that have touched the life of this seventy year old African legend. George was humbled to have been featured on the African Peer Revue Mechanism CD project with South African greats Babsy Mlangeni , Steve Kekana, Jabu Khanyile, Yvonne Chaka Chaka and many others. To be part of the South African launch of the Brahmah Kumaris World Spiritual University global J-A-M project , the Innaugration of President Mandela, The Dalai Lama Millenium event , the attention of Kwame Nkrumah and much else that touched him deeply. After spending much of the last few years in his studio recording and digitalizing his music he has a huge catalogue of original quality songs that are full of depth and meaning while proving infectious to the feet. Now , even as his body is going through the painful changes of motor neuron disease , he looks forward to hearing Sweet Feeling on the airways and digital highways , the first release of many . George Lee is a man satisfied and content with his life’s work and the opportunity he has to share it with the world. Ghanaian Jazz icon George Lee - whose career spans for over 50 years - received the coveted Special Recognition Award at the 2008 Channel O Music Video Awards ceremony on Thursday 9 October 2008 in Johannesburg at Carnival City. The highly esteemed Special Recognition award is designed by Africa’s leading music channel, Channel O, to acknowledge the contribution an individual has made to the African music industry.
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