Nobody believes Charles Amoah when he says that he is 50 plus. Indeed, there is nothing about the veteran musician that puts his age beyond 40.

On stage, Charles comes through as absolutely at one with his music. His every step, every gesture appears calculated to carry the essence and feeling of what he sings.

During his recent performance on the “Burger Highlife Made in Germany” concert at the National Theatre, Charles Amoah proved beyond all doubt that in terms of live performance, there are only very few Ghanaian musicians today who demonstrate such active stage craft in his performances.

Despite his age, he dances better and is more active on stage than his relatively younger musicians.

“I exercise a lot and control what I eat to keep in top shape. I also watch what I drink and that has been the trend for me”, he told Showbiz last week. “ Whenever I have to perform, I rehearse throughout the week even if the performance will last only three minutes.”

Asked about what has found most rewarding from his music career he said his dream has been to be able to impart his knowledge into budding artistes and to give them a future in the music industry and not about stardom or the size of his bank account as has been the dream for most musicians.

“People have walked up to me and said, your music has been able to give me back my marriage, given me hope and so on. Tell me, what is more rewarding than this?

“After the awards and the stardom, when the curtain is drawn and you are left alone, then what? My success is determined by the size of my heart and how I am remembered”.

Charles started his music career in 1974, and toured with Akonoba J K, then with Happy Brothers whose leader was master Akwaboah and then Alex Konadu’s Band. Later he joined Rim Akandoh’s Sparrows Band, Kofi Ani-Johnson’s Parrots Band and Black Anchor.

Charles is the second of 10 children to mom, Abena Konadu from Old Tafo and father, the late Charles Amoah. He had most of his education at Old Tafo Methodist School in the Ashanti Region before leaving for Munchengladbach State College in Germany.

While in Germany, he played with Kamela Band whose leader was Chester Adams in 1979 but after the disintegration of the band due to various concerns related to money, the kind of music they performed and other issues, he finally met his producer, Mike Milos Vuscovic who owned the Milos Music Company in 1981.

According to Charles, he joined the Black Earth Band led by Sir Roberto who was also leader of B. Soyaya’s band in Ghana. He continued his touring with Black Earth in 1982 and then in 1984 his first album was released. It was called ‘Sweet Vibration’ and contained 12 songs. Hits included ‘Shake your body to the Beat’ and Scratch my Back’.

Charles explained that “Scratch my Back’ was co-produced by Bernd Liedbrand, a German who re-produced ‘Englishman in New York’ from Sting and ‘You Sexy Thing’ from Hot Chocolate. “It was after hearing my play-backs in Europe that Bernd decided to take me on and that was how I got a contract with EMI in Koln.”

Through all these transformations there was a yearning for Charles to return home to Ghana and to produce for the Ghanaian market. This passion materialised when a friend, Kwaku Mensah domiciled in Germany, encouraged him to do his debut ‘ Fre Me’ and ‘Mene Wo Begoro’ in 1985.

He said distributing the record was a problem because the music “was unusual and kind of different from the familiar Yaa Amponsah thing people used to know.”

Peter Krick of Sky Line Studios in Germany, Bodo Steiger, Nana Tuffour, A. B Crentsil are some of the prolific musicians and producers Charles has worked successfully with.

Between 1991 and 1996, he helped in the management of Azigiza Jnr’s “Woye Bia” album featuring Tic Tac, as well as those of Yogi Doggi and Thomas Frimpong.

On his marital life, Charles was reluctant to reveal anything private but said his hair, which hitherto was assumed to be permed was actually his natural hair. His explanation was due to rumours that his Ghanaian wife (deceased) had divorced him due to his “permed hair”.

“I had it from my mother and my children had it from my German wife. Infact children from my Ghanaian wife also have traces of it” he added.

When Showbiz wanted to know whether the ‘young’ musician was hooked to anyone currently, he smiled broadly and said “I am very single and occupied by taking care of my kids and being the music director for Bands Alive. I am open to Christian women who would love me for me.”