Pat Thomas

Pat Thomas was born Nana Kwabena Amo Mensah on August 14, 1946, in Agona, Ghana, in the Ashanti region.

Raised in a family deeply rooted in music, his father was a music theory instructor, while his mother led a band. At a young age, Thomas exhibited a passion for music, learning from his uncle Onyina, who had played with icons like Nat King Cole, Miriam Makeba, Ray Charles, and Ella Fitzgerald. During his stay with his uncle, Thomas honed his skills in playing the guitar, drums, and percussion, but it was his remarkable voice that stood out as his most potent instrument.

In the 1960s, Pat Thomas joined forces with the legendary Ebo Taylor and became an integral part of the band "Blue Monks" at the Tip Toe Nite Club in Accra. During one of their performances, Thomas's voice captured the attention of a Caucasian woman who later helped him form a group called "The Satellites" in Ivory Coast. Afterward, he returned to Ghana to create "Sweet Beans," the band that gained popularity during the Kutu Acheampong Era.

In 1974, Pat Thomas recorded his first album "False Lover" with "Sweet Beans" and later released "Pat Thomas Introduces Marijata" with the band Marijata. His fame continued to grow, and in 1978, he was crowned "Mr. Golden Voice of Africa." His music reached new heights with the iconic hit "Sika Ye Mogya," which won Album of the Year in 1991.

Following political unrest in Ghana due to the 1979 coup, Pat Thomas moved to Europe, where he played in various cities with his band "Anabos." After spending time in London, he eventually settled in Canada, where he lived for a decade. While in Canada, Thomas shared his musical expertise by teaching percussion and collaborating with local and Ghanaian musicians.

In 2009, Pat Thomas's musical journey took another exciting turn when Kwame Yeboah and Ben Abarbanel-Wolff approached him with the idea of forming a stable band and touring. The newly formed Kwashibu Area Band recorded their eponymous album "Pat Thomas & Kwashibu Area Band" in 2015, marking a milestone in contemporary highlife. The album's success led to a worldwide tour, including performances at esteemed festivals like Glastonbury and Roskilde.

Pat Thomas and Kwashibu Area Band's self-titled album earned recognition as one of AllMusic's "Favorite Latin and World Albums" in 2015. The band's subsequent albums, such as "Coming Home" in 2016 and "Obiaa!" in 2019, further solidified Thomas's position as a respected figure in the global music scene.