Following the early discovery of his gift of music and subsequent years of participating in a variety of elementary school and community talent shows, Akouo’s first-among-many professional assignments as an artist began at age ten, when he joined Bill Bryant’s Willie Watts & Friends: a unique clown ensemble that incorporated elements of music, acting and dancing, and staged in major parades throughout southern California (1970-1974).
He was the bassist and writer for various bands in the Los Angeles, California area; namely, the jazz/soul group, JE’MM, from 1975-1978.
Conducted by pioneering music educator A. Hugh Graham, Akouo served, while a student from 1978-1980, as the bassist for the touring jazz ensemble of Southwestern Christian College of Terrell, Texas.
Throughout the years of 1986-1990, he sang tenor and bass as well as wrote, recorded and performed songs for the Twin Cities, Minnesota-based a cappella group Gospelights, under the direction of its founder Tierra Watkins, formerly of the famed group Straight Company of Louisville, Kentucky.
He was the host of the Minneapolis/St. Paul radio program S.E.A.R.C.H, from 1987-1990.
From 1988-1993, he independently owned and managed a Twin Cities, Minnesota concert promotion company.
For three years, from 1991-1994, Akouo was a contract songwriter for Johnnie Wilder Jr., co-founder and lead vocalist of the international R&B/funk group Heatwave, also the owner of Shalonda Productions of Dayton, Ohio.
In 1992, he was the narrating voice for The African American Experience: A History, by Computerized Educational Resources (Distributed by Globe Publishing), which was later narrated by Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr.
He was publicly acknowledged by James Scheibel, Mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota, on October 18, 1992, for contributing to the successful launching of the ‘Saint Paul for All’ Cultural Corridor.
For years of service as a community volunteer for the St. Paul Rondo Days Parade/Festival, he was given a Certificate of Appreciation Award on July 17, 1993.
On July 15, 1995, Akouo was presented with a Community Service Award from the Richfield/Bloomington, Minnesota Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
From 1997-2007, he created and cultivated an innovational music, arts and drama department for the Minneapolis Central Church of Christ, where he also served as its principal pulpitarian for twenty-four years (1983-2007).
In the 1999-2000 New Millennium Edition of ‘Who’s Who’ in America, he is listed as an Honored Member.
He founded Pineal Records, Books & Films in May 2000, through which he produces and distributes his and others’ artistic works and merchandise.
Akouo’s first studio album (EP), Help Is On The Way, was released in 2002, and featured in the 2003 African American Independent Film by 828 Entertainment, Pretty Lady (IMDb). His second studio album (EP), Signz ‘N’ Timez, was released in 2010.
Grace Journey, Akouo’s third studio album, was released in August 2013.
Akouo received a formal endorsement in May 2014 from Michael Pedulla, founder of M.V. Pedulla Guitars, Inc.
For his album Grace Journey, he won The Akademia Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album in March 2016.
In August 2016, a feature story about Akouo was officially published in the Marquix Global Network.
During the month of February 2017, his song, Ev’rything Is Gonna Get Better, hit the number one position on the R&B Soul Charts of the Power XR West Coast Radio Network.
In November 2017, he was a session bassist for music recorded by R&B singer Giorge Pettus.
Throughout August 2018, Akouo’s song, I’m Into You, hit the number one position on the R&B/Soul Charts of KMIX Radio in Los Angeles, California.
In the month of September 2018, a feature story about Akouo was published in the Marquix Global Network and Focal Point magazines.
For the duration of March 2019, I’m Into You, Akouo’s ballad on the Grace Journey album, hit and maintained the number one position on the R&B/Soul Charts of WNYR Radio in New York, New York.
Churchman, Akouo’s fourth and multi-genre concept studio album, was officially inaugurated on June 5, 2019.
You & Me, an up-tempo tune for square, zydeco, swing and line dancing, earned Akouo The Best Country Song Award for the month of January 2020 by The Akademia Music Awards.
In collaboration with Author/Illustrator Chris Fulton, Akouo introduced the Churchman Children’s Art & Amusement Book in December 2021, which was published by Pineal Books.
He began a comic strip in January 2022, Churchman & Kape-able Kidz, viewable on the Churchman Facebook, Churchman X, and Churchman & Kape-able Kidz Pinterest sites.
On April 14, 2022, an article about Akouo was featured in Voyage Minnesota Magazine.
He was a highlighted figure in Canvas Rebel Magazine on November 3, 2022.
Accentuating the forward movement of local businesses, artists and creatives, a write-up about Akouo was published in Bold Journey Magazine on August 25, 2023.
In recognition for having created a musical repertoire that is truly original, and for talent, hard work and perseverance that have been deemed worthy of the highest lifetime recognition, Akouo was inducted in the Akademia Music Awards Hall of Fame on September 1, 2023.
Jointly with Animator/Illustrator Muhammad Bilal and The Artise Lab, he adapted the Churchman & Kape-able Kidz comic strip to animation in January 2025, with captivating cartoon episodes featured periodically on YouTube’s Kape-able Kidz Cartoon Channel.
Known for his innovative approach in the musical and visual arts, Akouo was featured twice in one year in Voyage Minnesota Magazine: May 14, 2025, and September 3, 2025. Invaluable team members Tony Evans, Chris Fulton, Tracy Garnier, Muhammad Bilal, and Yar Alexandrov were also credited in these articles.