Legendary Ghanaian highlife musician, A.B. Crentsil reported dead

Legendary Ghanaian high life Musician, Mr Alfred Benjamin Crentsil Jr known in the music circles as A. B. Crentsil has been reported death.

 Report said the “I Go Pay You Tomorrow” composer  died on Wednesday July 13.

Renowned Sound Engineer, Mr Fred Kyei Mensah who announced the death of the contemporary Ghanaian vocalists in a Facebook post said his hit song Juliana cannot be forgotten.

“FAREWELL AB CRENSTIL.

The original composer and singer of the famous and controversial songs, ‘Moses and Atia’, AB Crenstil, has died!

He had a stint with a lot of bands before joining the Sweet Talks Band with Smart Nkansah and then his own band, Ahenfo.

His hit songs, ‘Juliana and Obi ba wiase’, cannot be forgotten.

More details soon. Rest well,” Mr Kyei Mensah’s post sighted by GhanaPlus.com reads.

His post was accompanied by a picture of the musician playing the dondo drum also known as the talking drum.

Biography of A. B. Crentsil

A. B. Creatsil Jnr. was born at Prestea in the Western Region in 1943 to the late Alfred Benjamin Crentsil and Esi Yaaba.

Named after his father A. B Crentsil Snr, he assumed the name without the junior when his father died in 1984.

He acquired his basic education at the Takoradi Methodist Primary and later the Rev Rev Cleveland Middle School, all in Takoradi in the Western Region.

While there,  A. B. as affectionately called was introduced to guitar Mr. Thedoh Crentsil and sooner than later, became a pro in the playing musical instrument and singing along while playing it.

After his middle-school examinations, A.B. Centsil worked as an electrical apprentice under his father, who was then the Superintendent of the technical branch of Ghana Railways at Takoradi and simultaneously worked as an electrician and and also as a member of the Strollers Band owned by one Kwesi Donkor.

The “Angelina” hit maker played with bands such as  El Dorados, the 1990’s Sweet Talks , a resident band at The Talk Of The Town Hotel in Tema under the joint leadership of Smart Nkansah and himself .

He was the  lead singer.

A.B. Crentsil later formed his own band known as the Ahenfo Band.

In 1990, the celebrated musician opened a 16-track recording studio and the rest has since been history.

He is best known for tracks such “Moses”, “I  Go Pay You Tomorrow”, ‘Ye Wo Adze Oye(Sokoo)”, “Juliana”, “Angelina”, “Obi Baa Wiase”, ‘Ayen”, “Gya Me Life Ma Me”, “Ma me Dwen Me Ho”, “Landlord Abodwese”, “Menba Bio” and host of others.

The renowned musician’s works has own him several laurels including Fontomfrom Evergreen Award, a special recognition in his honour for staying relevant in the music scene for 15–20 years.

A. B. Crentsil left behind a wife and eight children.

Source: GhanaPlus.com