The name David Ampofo is synonymous with award-winning journalism. He is also a communications expert and social entrepreneur. He gained national prominence for his ‘Time with David’ talk show.
But if you were his mate at St. Johns, you would attest to the fact that the man is more than gruelling guests on television. He can sing! In fact, one may be tempted to say he is in the wrong profession practising journalism!
His silky voice and musical gift awoke from a closet of obscurity Saturday night during the 2016 edition of the Joy FM ‘Pop Chain All-Star Concert’ at +233 Jazz Bar and Grill at North Ridge in Accra.
Wearing all black, David Ampofo dusted off his old school swag to lead his old school band – Matthew Chapter 5 – to thrill patrons to a night of unforgettable music.
As if he was 17 all over again, the communications expert – now turn one-night musician – got busy at work melting the hearts of the women at the venue with Eric Clapton’s 1977 hit, ‘Wonderful Tonight’.
David Ampofo, backed by the famous Ackah Blay on guitar, sang passionately and his reward was swift, loud applause from patrons – mostly ladies.
From the slow songs, he upped the tempo. His performance of Jimmy Cliff’s 1968 hit ‘Synthetic World’ was simply epic. He killed it! The loud applause and cheers said it all.
After that impressive performance, David Ampofo told Joy News that “I love it. I should be a singer. Everything else we do is just a waste of our time, I should be a singer.”
Asked why he did not pursue a music career, he said, “You know our system, after a while if you think that’s all you are going to do, they think you are not serious but I’m telling you it’s in my blood.”
He admitted that, music is a part of him that he cannot let it go and “one of these days I will do it” hinting that he may release his own song soon.
David Ampofo might have wowed patrons but bands like The Kuziuniks from Achimota School (Motown) also gave off a performance of a lifetime.
The Kuziuniks kicked off their performance with Millie Small’s 1964 hit single, ‘My Boy Lollipop’. Patrons danced as if it was still the 1960s.
When they kicked in Sir Victor Uwaifo’s ‘Joromi’, dancing nerves were awoken. The dance floor was filled with energy-filled dancers, including Prof. Kojo Acquah Yankah, former Member of Parliament and Minister of State, busily dancing to good music.
The Kuziuniks did really thrill patrons. Aggrey Memorial’s Vox International led by veteran musician Bessa Simons was next.
Vox International kicked off their performance with a minute of silence for the departed, persons who played during the glorious Pop Chain era, and in one voice, “may their souls rest in peace,” echoed at the venue.
Mr Simons alluding to an alleged sabotage disclosed that, “there’s been a sabotage. Achimota has managed to bring all their people here. Next year you will see. We will bring the whole Cape Coast here. You will see.”
Vox International was lucky. Their choice of doing Osibisa’s 1976 smash hit ‘The Coffee Song’ came in handy. With Mr Simons putting his keyboard playing A-game to bear on the night, the dance floor was packed!
That song out did what Achimota had achieved in 30 minutes. The applauds after that performance said it all.
Several bands on the night tried their hands on Sir Victor Uwaifo’s ‘Joromi’ but none of those performances beats Adisadel College’s performance of that song.
Theirs was simply apt. The band led by Dr Sam Mensah and Kwaku Atakorah after several decades still knew their craft and instruments and they played them so well.
Dr Sam Mensah, in a calm, composed posture, using his guitar – his best friend and longtime companion – ‘sang’ the ‘Joromi’ song so well that he was given a standing ovation amidst loud cheers.
When he had the chance to speak, he did admit that the songs and performances on the night “takes us back to the good, good music of yester years.”
Kwaku Atakorah, also happily said, “welcome to the Adisadel College in the 1960s,” and revealed that, the last time they had a Pop Chain was in 1968 at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). They made sure patrons had a good dose of classics from that last Pop Chain performance.
All other performers on the night, including Paulina Oduro, St Augustine’s band and Mfantsipim made the concert a memorable one.
Patrons made cash donations and pledges to the Joy FM’s Sugar Project. The concert is to raise funds to support Joy FM’s Sugar Project, which is a Diabetes Awareness and Screening Initiative.
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