Kwesi Dankwa is a prolific Ghanaian musician, Guitarist, Singer, Composer, performer and Band leader closely associated with highlife music and has worked with an array of great music legends in Ghana, Africa, Denmark and the rest of Europe.
Kwesi Dankwa speaks vividly through his guitar in his lyrics. He spent his career chasing every dynamic sound he could get out of his instrument and years of honing his skill as a call-session musician had prepared him for what was to come namely as guitarist and bandleader for some of the greatest bands of all time. A band whose creative ambition matches the scale of their success.
He is the founder and band leader of the Dzidudu Band. He began his professional music career with the great Highlife super bands of the 1980s.
The legendary musician emerged as a guitar radical and quickly left his mark when he started as a guitarist with the Great Super Sweet Talks International band then led by A.B Crentsil based in Tema who was known as one of the most influential bands in Ghana’s highlife music Industry.
He joined the Bisa Goma band which was the sensational band at the time, then he moved to the Zaga Wata band, Osagyefo Band and Dutch Benglos.
Finally, Kwesi Dankwa got signed on as a founding member of the Marriot’s International band and recorded their famous evergreen Album Wossi Ananse A…… originally released on cassette titled Face to Face released under Adonten Productions label.
Marriot Band studio albums got the attention and instant recognition and rotation on the airwaves.
He has also recorded with Little John Nkansah on his album titled Osheshye Mpetia, Commander Anthony Scorpion and the beach Scorpions band, Agyeman Opambours International Band, Smart Frimpong leader of the Apollo high Kings International Band of Ghana with Abrantie Amaakye Dede as a singer in Nigeria.
Oyo’s Band of Sonny Ade´s drummer Steve Kontoh, Gold Coasters Band with Saxophone player Afro Davis as the leader, formed Bawasaba Jazz Band with Afrikabi Smart Aperh the drummer of the famous Psychedelic Aliens Fame and released an album in 2007.
Formed a combo Jazz band with Red Cap James with Rama Brew on vocals that was well known and patronised by the diplomatic community in Ghana.
Kwesi Dankwa met with the Divine drummer Kofi Ghanaba (Guy Warren best known as the inventor of Afro Jazz) during an Emancipation Day musical concert in 2000 and he helped give birth to the Dzidudu orchestra band and also became its first patron.
Kofi Ghanaba the divine drummer handedly sponsored the inauguration of the Dzidudu orchestra band at the National Theatre in 1998.
Dzidudu Orchestra band became the official band to play the opening acts for Kofi Ghanaba till his last day.
One of the longest-serving members and founding member of the band till today is German-born musician Kwame Thomas Woernle. Kwame Thomas is very well known in Ghana not just as an orchestra bandleader but also as a violinist in Amaakye dede and his Apollo High Kings band.
Kwesi Dankwa also featured and performed as a guest musician on stage with great musicians at the Ghana Films Music recording studios for Afia Mala from Togo, recorded at Ghana Films Music studio for Angelique Kidjo(5 times Grammy award winner) from Benin – Africa’s premier Diva and 100 most influential people in the world, played with Money Seeker, Sarafina from South Africa, Manu D’bango from Cameroun, Baba Mal from Senegal, Hugh Masekela from South Africa.
Performed with Spears band from Germany. Played at a Reggae festival in Germany with Third World (Reggae Ambassadors ) and Gregory Isaacs ( Cool Ruler . Lonely lover ) The most exquisite voice in reggae music. Also toured Ghana with Gregory Isaacs.
Recorded for Angelina Kidjio from Benin .. Recorded for Miata Fahnbulleh a Liberian singer and activist at Elephant Walk Studios, Majority of Gyedu Blay Ambulley Music Albums, AB Crenstils music Albums, Recorded an Album for Slim Young of the Military band Black Berets fame at elephant walk studios, CST Amamnakwaah Jewel Ackah, Paapa Yanksons Alums including his Gospel songs, Mary Ghansah’s first Album, Pat Thomas, Abbey Mensah – An ace Keyboardist.
