Early Life

Kofi 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, Kofi’s 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 paper, the South London Press, and an article about her wanting to become a singer was featured. The musical journey had begun.

Musical Career

Kofi 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.

Following the demise of Brown Sugar in the mid-1980's, Kofi embarked on a solo career, initially with Mad Professor, releasing three albums on his Ariwa Sound label, She had hits on the British reggae charts with 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. In collaboration with Macka B Kofi had hits with "Dread A Who She Love" and “Proud of Mandela” (a version of The Impressions “I’m So Proud”) topped the British Reggae Charts in 1990.

Kofi had been asked on many occasions to crossover to the Soul/RnB market and she began to pen some of her own work directly aimed at that genre of music. The opportunity arose through association with Jazzie B of the Soul II Soul phenomena. Motown Records had engaged Jazzie B to establish a subsidiary label ‘Funki Dreds’ of which he was to find and sign artistes of the highest calibre in the UK - Kofi was signed to the new ‘Motown/Funki Dreds’ label and featured on the 1992 "Soul II Soul Volume 3 - Just Right" album with the tracks "Move Me No Mountain" and "Future". The only single release by Kofi during this period was in 1992 with the song "Step By Step".

During her time with ‘Motown’ Kofi was commissioned to work for a mammoth musical project put together by Disney/Buena Vista. The ‘Mad About The Mouse’ project was a musical tribute to the company’s many successful movies over the years and as such they marked the occasion by featuring many top rated artistes to each take a very famous song from one of their beloved movies and perform it in their own unique style. This included LL Cool J, Gypsy Kings, Michael Bolton and Billy Joel, but to name a few. Kofi's contribution to the project was her rendition of “Kiss The Girl” from the ‘Little Mermaid'.

In 2008 Kofi began working with producers Mafia & Fluxy, and this saw the release of the album 'Rocking Eternally' as well as inclusion of songs on a number of compilation albums. The 2011 album 'Kofi and Friends' showcased Kofi in a more roots reggae mood and sharing the album with established reggae artistes: Freddie McGregor, Luciano, Michael Rose, George Nooks, Morgan Heritage and Earl Sixteen. During 2011 the film 'The Story of Lovers Rock', directed by Menelik Shabazz, was publicly released and the film featured Kofi in conversation and music from Brown Sugar.

In 2010 Kofi took up residency in Barbados performing various music styles to meet audience expectations at many hotels and locations around the island. 2012 saw her working with new producers, releasing a new EP 'Sweetness & Thanks' and a number of singles in various genres. The album Rocking Eternally was also re-released.

Kofi continues to be a dynamic and audience engaging live entertainer. Notable performances include performing as the closing act at The Giants of Lovers Rock event in 2012 and entertaining at her own special shows 'Intimate' and 'Kofi & Friends' in the UK. During 2013 she appeared alongside Sanchez, John Holt and Frankie Paul at the Barbados Reggae Festival also appearing at the St Lucia Jazz Festival. At the Leeds Carnival in 2015  she performed as one of the supporting acts for headliners Third World

During 2016 Kofi returned to the UK for an indefinite period to complete work on a new album and a number of singles which will reflect her various musical styles with songs in the Soul/R&B, Reggae and Jazz genres. In April 2017 the 'Intimate' event was developed, with music director Christella Litras, into a new show 'The Journey' and the show included the first public performances of some of the new songs. Launched in Leeds at Seven Arts with two sold out evenings, nine quality musicians, guest singers Rob Green and Marion Zubrzycki from the Caution Collective and solo showcases for the backing singers. Presented by DJ Fluid, with poetic narration by Khadijah Ibrahiim and expressive dancing by Phoenix Dance founder David Hamilton and 12 year old Leilani Storm, the show proved to be a very successful formula.

1989 “Black With Sugar”

1992 “Wishing Well”

1994 “Friday’s Child”

2008 “Rocking Eternally”

2011 “Kofi and Friends”

2012 “Rocking Eternally” (Re-released)