Kofi (musician)
| Kofi | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Carol Simms |
| Origin | London, UK |
| Genres | Lovers rock, reggae, soul, R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, musician |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Labels | Ariwa, Cousins, Koffe an Kreem |
| Associated acts | Brown Sugar |
| Website | koffeankreem |
Carol Simms, better known as Kofi, is a British lovers rock singer who was a member of the group Brown Sugar prior to embarking on a solo career.
Simms was born in Lambeth, South London, the third youngest of six children. With her church of God upbringing, and with the sound of everything from ska, reggae, jazz and soul emanating from the family home, Simms' natural love of music was enhanced, and after a brief flirtation with acting during which she attended drama school, her urge to make music began to dominate. Determined, the fourteen-year-old Simms wrote to the local newspaper, the South London Press, and an article about her wanting to become a singer was featured. The musical journey had begun.
Simms first found success as a member of the Lovers rock trio Brown Sugar (which also featured Caron Wheeler and Pauline Catlin). The trio enjoyed unprecedented success, topping the UK reggae charts on three occasions. Brown Sugar's first chart-topper in 1977, "I'm in Love With a Dreadlocks", was also the first release on the new Lover's Rock record label formed by Dennis Harris, John Kpiaye and Dennis Bovell. The record label title became the adopted definition for the genre of music. Simms and Wheeler were re-united briefly in October 2005 at the Metropolitan Black Police Association's annual gala at The Barbican in London.
Following the demise of Brown Sugar in the mid-1980s, Simms, under the moniker of Kofi, embarked on a solo career, initially with Mad Professor and releasing three albums on his Ariwa Sound label. She had hits on the British reggae charts with the reworking of Brown Sugar songs "I Am So Proud", "I'm in Love With a Dreadlocks" and "Black Pride", with new songs such as "Didn't I" (on which Kofi also played bass guitar), "Looking Over Love", and with a version of Alton Ellis' "I'm Still in Love with You", a duet with John McLean. "Proud of Mandela", a version of The Impressions' "I'm So Proud", a collaboration with Macka B, topped the British reggae charts in 1990. The 1988 British Reggae Industry Awards ceremony saw Kofi winning the awards for "Best Female Vocalist" and reaching number one with the songs "Didn't I" and "Black Pride". Kofi went on to achieve further awards in 1989, establishing her status as one of the queens of Lovers rock.
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