Taylor’s death was confirmed by his family and sources close to the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA). He died on 7 February 2026 at Saltpond Hospital in Ghana’s Central Region, according to union statements and social media posts.
Born Deroy Taylor in 1936 in Cape Coast, Taylor became one of highlife’s most influential figures over six decades, blending traditional Ghanaian rhythms with jazz, funk and early Afrobeat.
His career took shape in the late 1950s and early 1960s with bands such as the Stargazers and Broadway Dance Band before he moved to London, where he worked alongside musicians including Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti.
Taylor went on to lead several groups, produce and arrange records, and later enjoyed renewed global attention with albums like Love & Death and Yen Ara, while international artists sampled his work.
Tributes from around Ghana and across the world poured in after news of his passing, with many calling him a foundational architect of West African music and a mentor to younger musicians.