At 73, Ghana’s Funky Rob is charting a new path

Backed by the youthful Oslo-based Flammer Dance Band, Reindorf, nicknamed ‘Funky Rob’ by his fans, rocked Musikcaféen in Copenhagen during the recent Denmark stop of his European tour, which will also see him in venues across Norway, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland. 

After his two-hour set, the fans were eager for more, chanting his name and inviting him back onstage. The show ended with a standing ovation and fans taking selfies with the musician.

Two concertgoers, Anders Jakobsen and Emilie, raved about the experience, saying, “It’s been a long time since we’ve danced to this funky style and sound. It’s so refreshing and great that Funky Rob is back with the 1970s and ’80s sound.” Reindorf's first European tour in 2019 was a hit and he is now back in 2023 due to popular demand.

Born in Accra, Ghana, Reindorf learnt to play the piano in Cotonou, Benin, and was influenced by Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou and Black Santiago. 

When I asked him where he got the inspiration for his style in a chat after the Copenhagen gig, Rob smiled and said, “I got it from such American artists as Wilson Pickett, James Brown, Otis Redding and Elvis Presley. I felt I could be a showman like them or even more, by creating my own unique style.”

Funky Rob recorded two albums in the 1970s, namely Funky Rob Way and Make It Fast, Make It Slow, but his style of music wasn’t popular in Ghana and the albums went out of print.

The man himself disappeared from the music scene, and ended up running several successful restaurants in Accra. His music was rediscovered by music bloggers and record enthusiasts at the turn of the century. Make It Fast, Make it Slow was sampled by characters like J Dilla and Camp Lo and become a staple on dance floors around the world.

But it took the musicians another decade to seek the limelight again. In 2010, Make Fast, Make It Slow was reissued by British company Soundway Records and was followed by Funky Rob Way rereleases in 2011 by German label Analog Africa and Mr Bongo Publishing in Britain, respectively. His album Hellfire, meanwhile, was discovered and reissued by Canadian label Tambourine Party Records in 2017.

Reindorf’s 2019 European tour also marked his return to music and showbiz. On the road, the flamboyant singer activated his all-star cast of musicians through restless sets two-hour sets, preaching relentless Ghanaian funk, before letting the whole affair collapse into a hoarse scream: “Do you want more?” Sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented further tours. 

Determined to continue making music, Reindorf is soon releasing his fifth album Human Race. “I’m in a comeback into music and music showmanship as ‘The Funky Man’,” he said.