AAA Joins His Ancestors

Akwasi Ampofo Adjei Asante Mampong was in the early hours of Tuesday thrown into general mourning when word got there that music colossus, Akwasi Ampofo Adjei, had died. Popularly called Mr AAA, Dada Thick and the Music Prophet, Ampofo Adjei, the founder and leader of Kumapem Royals International Band, died of cardiac arrest at exactly 8.45 p.m. on Monday night at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).

He was on his way from Asante Mampong to Kumasi to finish work on a new album when he had a sudden heart attack on and was rushed to KATH, where he died two hours later while doctors made attempts to revive him.The news about his sudden demise was so shocking that his father?s house at Worakese, a suburb of Asante Mampong, was besieged by a large crowd to express their sympathy with the bereaved family.

He was 57 and left behind a wife, Madam Adwoa Kyerewaa, and 16 children.He composed more than 30 albums, most of them philosophical in nature. They included Ebe To Da, Time Changes, Girl Bi Nti, Mansa ne Agyapomaa, If You Do Good.Messrs Francis Akosa and Anthony Adjei and Miss Ama Adjeiwaa brothers and sister respectively of the late musician shed tears as they briefed Showbiz about the life of the man whose music moved fans and had a positive impact on the lives of many people.

He was said to have earlier on Friday bought a new set of instruments for his band after making his first recording on the new album.Mr AAA attended the Boanim Presby Primary and completed standard seven at the Asante Mampong Anglican Middle School in 1962. He taught as a pupil teacher for five years at Kwame Danso in the Brong Ahafo Region.

From there his father, Opanin Kwabena Agyei, who believed in education so much told him to go for secondary education. He obliged and started at the Sekyereman Secondary School at Asante Mampong. He completed in 1972 and passed in the General Certificate Examination (GCE) Ordinary Level.

Before attending secondary school, he was working with Akosa Show Believers Band, one of the pop bands in the country at the time. While with the band, he composed his first album, Woye Ananse a, Me nso ye Ntikuma.
It was in the same year (1972) he completed secondary school that he formed the Kumapem Royals Band, later to be renamed the Kumapem Royals International Band.

Mr AAA trained many musical artistes, including Abrantie Amakye Dede, the founder and leader of Apollo High Kings International; Ali Baba of Mahu Odo Anya Shock fame, K. K. Kabobo and Cudjoe, popularly called Papa Shee, who was one of his dancers.

In another development, one Mr Obiri Yeboah, the MD of Electro Vision, Kumasi says, that last Saturday AAA brought an amplifier, combo, a mixer and an electronic organ to be repaired by his company and deposited ?100,000 and expressed shock that two days later AAA had been announced dead.

And in Accra, Nii Addokwei Moffatt adds that when about a month ago it was rumoured that Mr. AAA was dead, the maverick appeared on GTV?s Morning Show and in an interview by Amankwaah Ampofo dispelled the rumours.

On the programme, he lavished praises on MUSIGA President, Alhaji Sidiku Buari for his assistance to him and mentioned that without Alhaji, he would have been dead.

A diabetic, AAA had been in and out of hospital a few times but had been quite stable for a while. His death therefore was a shock to many people, among whom is his close friend and confidante, Alhaji Sidiku Buari, who was beside himself with grief over his friend?s death.

In a chat with Showbiz, Alhaji mentioned that after a three-month spell at the 37 Military Hospital, AAA? health had improved and was happy that he had finished a new recording and was working on another one. "I feel so sad that our brother should leave at this time when everything seemed to be going so well for him".

He was a bundle of talent and it would have been good to have him around a little longer for the youth to benefit from his experience?, he said. Alhaji was quick to concede that ?it is Allah who gives and has taken back.? He also paid tribute to Dr Boakye and his staff at the 37 Military Hospital who did so well.

Theresa Ayoade, the Event Director of Charterhouse, organisers of the Ghana Music Awards was very disappointed that AAA should kick the bucket at this time that her organisation had conferred the MUSIGA Merit Awards on him at the last music awards for his contribution to the industry, especially his role of nurturing people like Amakye Dede, K.K. Kabobo and others.

She felt so sorry for Amakye Dede, who has been made a Spacefon Legend and has planned to perform with his mentor on the same stage on September 4 as a ?thank you? to him for breaking him in the music industry.

As a Spacefon Legend, Amakye is required to perform with one musician of his choice. According to Theresa, ?it is a great loss as we were looking forward to seeing him perform with his ?son? Amakye.?

AAA, a three-time ECRAG award winner, has a large following because of his great songs which are always loaded with lyrics that touch people in various ways. May AAA rest in peace.