Bob Pinodo, reputed as the show master of Africa and deemed to have popularised gospel music in Ghana in the late 1970s, has composed a music package to be used as a campaign tool to educate people on the dangers of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

At the time that he first came onto the music scene in 1978, he released an album entitled, “Yesu Ni Ma Gyenkwa” (Jesus is my saviour) which was reportedly an instant hit throughout Africa.

Before this time, only a few, notably Kwabena Okine, Onyina,Kakaeku and E.K’s were bands doing gospel music but with comparatively little impact.

Pinodo, who has been recording and performing in Europe and America over a decade now, told Times Weekend that the project was primarily inspired by a guest on Oprah Winfrey’s show, an AIDs patient. When he narrated his story, tears poured down the cheeks of both studio audience and others watching the show.

“I was touched so much that I could not swallow my tears but also shared tears with them as well,” he said.

Titled Get involved in HIV/AIDs campaign, the Ghana Aids Commission (GAC) sponsored project also has songs such as “HIV/AIDs is real”, “Joe Boy” and “Enka Ekyire Se Yebeben Yehowa”.

To ensure that as many people as possible have access to the songs, free CDs and cassettes will be given to individuals, radio and TV stations to reach out to the larger audience.

“The first 1,500 copies will be given to cabinet ministers, diplomatic corps, DCEs, TV stations, Fm stations, ministries and 148 constituencies in the country, gratis,” he empha-sised.

He said he was also planning a regional concert to reach out to the people at the grass roots with the message.

The music will project the GAC on the map of the world as the first AIDs Commission to take the lead in HIV/AIDs campaign seriously and effectively through music, he said.

While in Europe and America Pinodo performed with top stars like Errol Kennedy of Imagination Fame in London, Mervin Africa, Hugh Masekela, keyboardist, Tony Conto and top guitarist, Claud Williams.

He was also Tina Turner’s arranger and trumpeter in the USA, Fernando, Marvin Gaye’s saxophonist and Bill Witters bassist.

He is currently a senior research tutor at the University of Education, Winneba, and director of the university’s dance band.

He blamed the high level of unpro-fessionalism of some musicians on the fact that they are into it just to make money.

“We also tend to use computers to record our music and this does not sound as good as live recording,” he noted, explaining that computer recordings is only good for demonstrations.