Legends of Ghanaian Highlife Music: Broadway Band

The Broadway Band (or Broadway Dance Band) was established in 1958 in Takoradi by Sam Obote, a Nigerian. Mac Tontoh joined the band in 1962. It was the first big band of its kind in Africa. The band was run by the management of the Zenith Hotel in Takoradi and led by Sam Obote until 1965. At that time (early 1960’s), the Broadway was being regarded as a national band in Ghana and had been travelling with the late Kwame Nkrumah. When Ghana Airways was inaugurated, the band went to Khartoum, Beirut, etc. Stan Plange joined the Broadway in Takoradi around 1964-1965. The name Broadway was changed to Uhuru in 1964 after the manager of the Zenith Hotel sued the musicians for using the name which he claimed belong to Zenith. The Uhuru played big band jazz. Stan Plange led the Uhuru band from 1965 to 1972 when he left the band. Source: J. Collins, 1994, pp.71-72