Nii Moi Speedy Acquaye
Nii Moi ‘Speedy’ Acquaye was born on 07 June 1931(died 9-15-1993) in Accra, Ghana, then known as the Gold Coast. He was gifted a small drum by his parents, which he began playing before starting school at 12. This piqued his interest in percussion. Acquaye received offers to join teenage bands, but he refused. He joined the military briefly but left for England when he got an opportunity to do so.
When Acquaye moved to England in the 1950s, he earned a living as a fire eater, actor and dancer before his interest in music led him to Soho, which was teeming with small African clubs. This paved the way for Acquaye to meet other African musicians. He worked with saxophonists, Tubby Hayes and Ronnie Scott, and drummer, Phil Seamen. He also followed other African percussionists to join a band called Kenny Graham’s adventurous Afro-Cubists.
A decade later, Acquaye met Lancashire-born organist, Georgie Fame, and became Fame’s guide to Black society. Acquaye played with Fame’s band, Blue Flames, at the Flamingo and All Nighter clubs on Wardour street, Soho. As Acquaye played with the band, there was a new wave of appreciation for African musicians. Shortly after, other rock bands began employing Africans in their percussion section.
Acquaye eventually worked with big rock bands such as Rod Stewart, Graham Bond and the Rolling Stones.
Acquaye fell ill on a visit to Ghana in 1990 and was diagnosed with cancer of the liver. On 15 September 1993, he died aged 62 in London, England. Georgie Fame helped pay for Acquaye’s body to be flown back to Accra for burial.