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Members of The BHIM Band are calling on stakeholders in Ghana’s music industry to give greater recognition to backing vocalists, instrumentalists and live bands, arguing that their contributions to the success of many hit songs often go unnoticed.
Speaking on JoyNews’ E Vibes Musical Band Series, the award-winning live ensemble appealed to organisers of music awards schemes and industry players to introduce dedicated award categories that honour the work of backing musicians.
Backing vocalist SK said many talented singers remain in the background despite playing an essential role in both live performances and studio recordings.
“We need the opportunity to explore what we have with other artistes. I also want to make a special plea, because in Ghana, background vocalists are underrated. So I will use this opportunity to plead with industry players watching to focus more on us as background vocalists,” SK said.
Another member of the band, Ayeyi, rejected suggestions that backing vocalists have failed to make themselves visible, insisting that their contributions have always been evident within the industry.
“I don’t think it’s about how we position ourselves because we’ve always been in their faces. A notable mention will be Aunty Nana Ama, the lady who did some of the old songs,” Ayeyi said.
He noted that while audiences often recognise the voices behind classic recordings, backing vocalists are frequently overlooked during award ceremonies.
“When these songs came out, we always recognised and appreciated the significant voices behind them, but when it’s time to award, it mostly either goes to the engineers, video directors and musicians. Not once do the backing vocalists get recognised,” he added.
The BHIM Band believes creating dedicated award categories for backing vocalists and live bands would not only honour their contributions but also encourage more musicians to pursue careers in those specialised fields.
Widely regarded as one of Ghana’s leading live music ensembles, The BHIM Band is best known as the official backing band for award-winning dancehall artiste Stonebwoy.
The group has earned widespread acclaim for its energetic performances, musical versatility and collaborations with several Ghanaian artistes, performing on major stages both locally and internationally.
Their appeal comes amid growing conversations within Ghana’s entertainment industry about expanding recognition to include the many professionals working behind the scenes who contribute significantly to the creation, recording and live performance of music.
