The City Boys International Band of Ghana is one of those typical Highlife bands that is already for a long time highly popular inside Ghana. Because of their outstanding lyrics they had huge hits in their own country.
Their music has the ingredients of very typical sharp vocals on a organ and drum Highlife sound.
The City Boys International Band of Ghana is one of those bands that must be popular in Ghana (and Nigeria) itself but who are allmost unknown over here. Probably because of their vocals: this typical sharp Ghanaian sound, not very comfortable in Western ears. The music reminds me of the African Brothers: perhaps no coincidense since the leader of the City boys, Obooba J.A. Adofo 'Black Chinese' is Nana Ampadu's nephew.
Obuoba J. A. Adofo a.k.a. The Black Chinese a.k.a. Chairman Muo, is the Leader of the City Boys Band of Ghana. A sterling performer and entertainer with many years experience and a news maker wherever he goes. Highly remembered and adored for his love songs, Adofo and his Ghana's City Boys band are news headliners whenever they perform in Ghana. Nephew of Nana Ampadu (African Brothers Band) and humbly began as a lotto receiver in Accra (Mamprobi) has risen to stardom unsurpassed in Ghana's music history. Almost every mature Ghanaian knows or have heard of Adofo's music. A live dance or concert party performance without playing the ever popular "Ankwanobi" is a receipt for courting disaster at any City Boys band's program.
Highlife is a music genre that started in West Africa, along the coastal cities of present-day Ghana in the 19th century, during its history as a colony of the British and through its trade routes in coastal areas. It describes multiple local fusions of African metre and western jazz melodies. It uses the melodic and main rhythmic structures of traditional African music, but is typically played with Western instruments. Highlife is characterized by jazzy horns and multiple guitars which lead the band and its use of the two-finger plucking guitar style that is typical of African music. Recently it has acquired an uptempo, synth-driven sound.
Palm-wine music was one style that originated on coastal locations when local musicians began using portable instruments brought by traders and fused it with local string and percussion instruments. It was usually played in a syncopated 4/4 metre. This music was played in low class palm-wine bars at ports where sailors, dock workers, and working class locals would drink and listen to the music. Eventually this genre worked its way inland and a more Africanized version came containing 12/8 polyrhythms, this would be known as the "Native Blues". This style would gain popularity up until World War 2 when production of the records were stopped.