Artistes take our shine — Backup singer Nana Ama

IF you have boogeyed to great tunes from the 90s and early 2000s from artistes such as Lord Kenya’s Medo, Okomfo Kwadee’s Abro Ne Beyie and Ahwedie Abena, Nana Quame’s Menko Meda, Obour’s Atopa Jenjen among others, then you’ve got to give some applause to backup singer, Nana Ama Dadzie.

For over two decades, the singer has lent her vocals to many hit songs but has remained in the shadows.

In a recent conversation with Graphic Showbiz, Nana Ama said she was saddened by how artistes took all the shine leaving backup singers out of their success stories.

“It is said that ‘if you don’t sell your sickness, then you are likely not to get a cure’ and that is why this advocacy to get recognition for backup singers is very dear to me.

"We are so instrumental and most times, even do all the work by singing the choruses and the catchy hooks that attract listeners and yet, we have nothing to show for it.

“This is an unfair treatment to all backup singers who have been using their voices to produce the hit songs we all jump and dance to.

"It is unfortunate that I’m addressing this issue in a bitter way but that is how best I can express my feelings and that of my colleagues when artistes keep taking all of our shine,” she stated.

Nana Ama pointed out that she was disappointed in the media for always promoting artistes and leaving other players in the music production chain to their fate.

“Apart from me, there are the likes of Margaret Gbendey, She Love, Adez of Mentor fame, Marian Nana Akua, Elivava Mensah, Chariot Kofi and a host of others who have been the voices behind most of the hit songs but who knows about them?

“Do we even know that Zapp Mallet was a backup singer who assisted the likes of Reggie Rockstone, Lord Kenya, Obrafour, Obofour Raphael and many others he worked with?

“How many people know or have even heard of Lady Zuzu, a backup singer and composer of the popular Send Your Girl Child to School song?

“How many are aware that the sweet and romantic voices on many of Daddy Lumba’s songs are that of She Love and Atia Tina? This is the unfortunate situation of backup singers and until we come out to tell our stories, we will forever be in the dark,” she stated.

Having backed a lot of the big stars such as Barima Sidney, Yoggie Doggy and the late Bishop Michael Osei Bonsu, Nana Ama said it was uplifting when she was presented with a citation by 7DS TV last month.

However, Nana Ama said a lot more needed to be done to get recognition for backing vocalists, including getting the leadership of the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO) to help them to get support.

“I quite remember that She and I backed Rocky Dawuni on one of the songs which were really huge globally and won a big contract but he didn’t give us one dollar.

“It is really disappointing that these artistes don’t give us a penny when they make huge cash from the songs but that is understandable because there are always no official contracts.

"But it is important that GHAMRO factor us in the royalty systems as they have for sound engineers so that we can equally enjoy from our labour,” she stated.