Tilahun Gessesse (Amharic: ጥላሁን ገሠሠ) (also spelled Telahun Gesesse or Tlahoun Gèssèssè) was an Ethiopian singer. He was born on September 29, 1940, in Addis Ababa and died on April 19, 2009.
Tilahun was born to Woizero Gete Gurmu and Ato Gessesse Negusse. When he was fourteen years old, he was taken by his grandfather to Waliso where he began attending Ras Gobena Elementary School.
As time went by, his interest in music became increasingly clear, although his grandfather urged him to concentrate on his academic studies. The Ras Gobena School Principal Mr. Shedad (who was from Sudan), encouraged Tilahun's interest in music and urged him to go to Sudan to pursue his music career. Although Tilahun did not go to Sudan, he took Mr. Shedad's advice very seriously. When Woizro Negatwa Kelkai, Ato Eyoel Yohanes and others artists from the Hager Fikir Theatre came to his school to perform, Tilahun took the opportunity to discuss his interest in music with Ato Eyoel. He was told to go to Addis Ababa if he wanted to pursue a career in the field.
Tilahun Gessesse - Agul New
Tilahun left school to go to Addis Ababa, a journey he began on foot without his grandfather's consent. When his grandfather realized that Tilahun was no longer in Woliso, he informed Tilahun's great-aunt in Tulu Bolo. After Tilahun traveled fifteen kilometers on foot, he was caught in Tulu Bolo and stayed overnight with his great-aunt Woizero Temene Bantu. The next day, he was forced to return back to his grandfather in Woliso. Since his interest in music lay deep in his heart, Gessesse chose not to stay at his grandfather's house in Woliso. After staying only one night at his grandfather’s house, he again began his journey to Addis Ababa, this time hiding himself in the back of a loaded truck.
In Addis Ababa, Tilahun was first hired by the Hager Fikir Association, which is now known as Hager Fikir Theater. After a few years at the Hager Fikir Theater, he joined the Imperial Bodyguard Band where he became a leading star singer. During his time with the band, Gessesse ran afoul of the government after the attempted coup d'état of December 1960 by the Imperial Bodyguard. He was arrested and put in prison for a time.
Tilahun moved to the National Theater where his success continued. He was so famous that he appeared three times in front of Emperor Haile Selassie I. During a visit, the Emperor advised him not to abuse his talent.
The majority of Tilahun's recordings are in Amharic, and some are in Oromiffa.
He received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Addis Ababa University, in appreciation of his contribution to Ethiopian music. He has also received an award for his lifetime achievements from the Ethiopian Fine Art and Mass Media Prize Trust.
Tilahun Gessesse died on April 19, 2009. He had been in poor health for several years due to diabetes.
Tilahun Gessesse - A1 - Hebret (2:50)
Tilahun Gessesse - A2 - Bezu Gizie Alefe (2:50)
Tilahun Gessesse - A3 - Agul New (2:56)
Tilahun Gessesse - A4 - Megnot Eko Helme New (2:48)
Most Rastafarians consider Ethiopia to be their spiritual homeland and identify with that country to some extent-some even incorporate Amharic phrases into their songs, the classic example being the Abyssinians' repatriation classic "Satta Massa Gana."
Chachi Tadesse - Enkuan Des Yalachu
Chachi Tadesse does this tradition one step better-she actually is Ethiopian, and sings primarily in Amharic.
And while reggae is the foundation of her art, there's more to it than that; "Musica," with its swaggering beat and turntable work, shows a marked hip-hop influence, while her singing on the dancehall-flavored "Unity" seems to draw at least as much on North African vocal traditions as on the Memphis-by-way-of-Kingston sound that characterizes most reggae singing. Her muttered toasting on "Gorraw" is quietly compelling. She gets help from guests both famous (Stephen Marley, Sizzla) and obscure (Lisa Danger, Billy Mystic), but her shimmering voice is always at the core of each song's sound. This is a remarkable album.
Chachi Tadesse - 01 - Musica (ft. Stephen Marley) (4:45)
The very last album of Hirut Bekele, legendary ethiopian singer.
Hirut Bekele ሂሩት በቀለ - I am not meant for you [ባልታደልህ ነው]
Hirut Bekele - 01 - I am not meant for you [ባልታደልህ ነው] (3:22) Hirut Bekele - 02 - Lend me your name [ስምህን አውስኝ] (6:53) Hirut Bekele - 03 - Remembering you [ከዓይኔ ውል እያለ] (5:57) Hirut Bekele - 04 - It is love [ፍቅር ነው] (6:35) Hirut Bekele - 05 - My darling [ነፍስ ነገር] (6:43) Hirut Bekele - 06 - I will come today [ዛሬስ እኔው መጣሁ] (6:11) Hirut Bekele - 07 - My heart like the river Abay [ልቤ እንደ አባይ ውሃ] (5:49) Hirut Bekele - 08 - The hill [አቀበቱን] (5:18) Hirut Bekele - 09 - Hidden love [ስውሩ መውደድ] (6:25) Hirut Bekele - 10 - My defiant heart [ልቤ አብሮ] (5:23)
Beyond Addis is a collection of contemporary bands (compiled by J. J. Whitefield) inspired by Ethiopian music from the 70′s and features the likes of Akale Wube, Budos Band, Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra, The Heliocentrics and more.
The music of “Swinging Addis” of the 70′s was a clash of opposite elements: western instruments (drums, bass, guitar, horns) and the stylistic influence of Jazz, Soul, R&B and Rock’n’Roll bumping into traditional techniques of singing and composing, a legacy of Ethiopian popular music.
Mastermind of this revolutionary mix was Mulatu Astatke. Now, this compilation gives an overview of the work of young bands around the world inspired by Ethiopian music.
01. Akalé Wubé - Jawa Jawa (Alternate Take) (4:48) 02. The Heliiocentrics - Phantom of the Panther (2:21) 03. Imperial Tiger Orchestra - Yefikir Woha Timu (4:52) 04. Budos Band - Origin of Man (4:54) 05. Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra - Ethio (3:43) 06. Woima Collective - Woima (3:16) 07. Les Frères Smith - La Marche Des Smith (5:55) 08. Karl Hector & the Malcouns - Girma's Lament (2:55) 09. Zafari - Addis Ababa (3:39) 10. Whitefield Brothers - Sem Yelesh (3:22) 11. Transgressors - Beyond Addis (4:03) 12. Tezeta Band - Drop It! (4:53) 13. The Shaolin Afronauts - The Scarab (4:55) 14. Debo Band - Trek from Ethiopia (Part 1) (4:59) bonus track - vinyl edition 15. International Ducks - The Green Cow (3:27)
Hailu Mergia was born in Debre Birhan, Showa Province, Ethiopia in 1938 (1946 in the European calendar) to parents Tewabech Ezineh and Mergia Lulessa, who were of Amhara and Oromo ancestry, respectively. His mother took him to Aynemisa, close to Addis, where he grew up from age 3 until he was 10 when they moved to the capital Addis Ababa.
Hailu went to Shimelis Habte high school but dropped out before graduating. In 1952 (1960 in European calendar), he joined the army music department as a boy scout to support his mother. Mergia stayed in the army almost two years, learning how to read and write music.
After Hailu left the army, he started singing in small bars as a freelance musician. He joined various pick-up bands, touring across the Ethiopian provinces as a singer and accordion player for almost a year. After the group broke up, he started performing in nightclubs like Addis Ababa, Patrice Lumumba, Asegedech Alamrew, Sombrero, Zula Club and others. At Zula Club he and his mates formed Walias Band and did something no other band in Ethiopian nightclub history had done: they started buying their own musical instruments. Until then the club owners were supplying the instruments and had the power to fire musicians at will.
Zula Band
For the first time ever Walias Band signed a contract with the owner of Venus Club as a group thereby protecting themselves from club owners. Mergia and Walias Band went on to do gigs at hotels like Wabi Shebele and the Hilton.
After playing almost eight years at the Hilton Hotel, Mergia and Walias Band came to the United States and toured widely in 1982-1983. Afterwards, some of of the band stayed in America while others went back to Addis. That was a heartbreaking time for the band. They considered themselves a family, and they knew they had broken new ground in the history of Addis nightclub musicians. They had helped make the Ashantis Band from Kenya famous in Addis.
They were the first private band who played for state dinners at the palace for the Derg government (twice). And, they were the first private band to tour the USA. After the break-up of Walias Band, Mergia settled in the States and formed Zula Band with Moges Habte and Tamiru Ayele, playing in different restaurants and touring in the States and Europe.
At that time, Mergia made a one-man band recording with accordion for the first time, mixing in Rhodes electric piano, Moog synthesizer and a rhythm machine. That was 1985. This recording was inspired by the early memories of his first instrument, the accordion. After the break-up of Zula Band in 1992, he quit performing and ran Soukous Club for seven years with his partners Moges and Tamiru.
Hailu Mergia weaves Moog DX7 synthesizer, Rhodes electric piano and rhythm machine into the rich harmonic layering of his accordion, creating hauntingly psychedelic, elegantly arranged instrumentals. These tunes draw from famous traditional and modern Ethiopian songs, as Hailu brilliantly matches lush Amhara, Tigrinya and Oromo melodies with otherworldly flavors soaked in jazz and blues, synthesizing a futuristic landscape. He balances Ethiopian music's signature melodic shape with beautiful analog synth touches, floating upon clouds of hypnotically minimal rhythm tracks.
Nowadays he's making his living as a self-employed taxi driver at Dulles International Airport while continuing to record his music and practice as often as possible.
Hailu Mergia and Zula Band - 01 - Akal Aynish (7:46)
Hailu Mergia and Zula Band - 02 - Kotume (7:00)
Hailu Mergia and Zula Band - 03 - Ere Min Yishalegnal (6:54)
Hailu Mergia and Zula Band - 04 - Ayaskefam (7:15)
Hailu Mergia and Zula Band - 05 - Alamnim (8:39)
Hailu Mergia and Zula Band - 06 - Wusheten New (5:58)
Hailu Mergia and Zula Band - 07 - Hallo Hallo (6:33)
Hailu Mergia and Zula Band - 08 - Engidaye Nesh (7:44)
