Alemayehu Eshete
Alemayehu Eshete | |
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Background information | |
Born | June 1941 Jimma, Ethiopia |
Died | 2 September 2021 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | (aged 80)
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Years active | 1960s–2021 |
Labels | Buda Musique |
Alemayehu Eshete (Amharic: ዓለማየሁ እሸቴ; French pronunciation: Alèmayèhu Eshèté; June 1941[1] – 2 September 2021) was an Ethiopian singer. He performed since the 1960s and primarily in Amharic. He had been nicknamed "the Ethiopian Elvis".[2][3]
Career[]
Eshete's talent was recognized by Colonel Retta Demeqe, who invited the young singer to perform with Addis Ababa famous Police Orchestra. He had his first hit "Seul" in 1961 before moving on to found the Alem-Girma Band with Girma Beyene.[4] Over the course of 15 years, Eshete released some 30 singles until the arrival of the communist junta Derg.
Eshete gained fame in Europe and the Americas with the release of Buda Musique's Ethiopiques series of compilations on compact disc. Ethiopiques Volume 9 is devoted entirely to recordings of his earlier music,[5] and Volume 22 covers his career between 1972 and 1974. Other songs have also appeared on Volumes 3, 8, 10, and 13 or the series. In 2008, Eshete toured the United States with fellow Ethiopian singer Mahmoud Ahmed, backed by Boston's 10-piece Either/Orchestra.
Death[]
Eshete died at midnight of 2 September 2021 in a hospital located in Addis Ababa. He was spending days with his friends and complained about discomfort after going home on 7 a.m (in local time). Some sources indicate that he had been in poor health due to heart disease. His funeral service is undisclosed yet.[6]
Discography[]
Album list |
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Addis Ababa
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Ethiopiques, Vol. 9
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The Rough Guide to the Music of Ethiopia
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Ethiopiques, Vol. 22 (1972–1974)
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The Rough Guide To Psychedelic Africa
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The Rough Guide to the Music of Ethiopia
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References[]
- ^ Jacques Denis (3 September 2021). "Mort de Alèmayèhu Eshèté, showman brûlant d'Éthiopie". Libération (in French). Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- ^ Gordon, Oliver (1 April 2016). "Notes from Ethiopia: the jazz revival in Addis Ababa". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
- ^ Presenter: Courtney Pine (10 May 2014). "Swinging Addis". The Documentary. BBC. BBC World Service. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
- ^ Richards, Chris (12 October 2016). "Girma Beyene, a titan of Ethiopian jazz, returns to Washington". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
- ^ ETHIOPIQUES VOLUME 09 on Buda Musique Archived 7 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved 10 September 2012.
- ^ Admin (3 September 2021). "Alemayehu Eshete, "Ethiopian Elvis Presley", reportedly died". Borkena Ethiopian News. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
External links[]
- 1941 births
- 2021 deaths
- Ethiopian people
- Ethiopian singers
- Ethiopian male singers
- Ethiopian jazz
- 20th-century singers
- 21st-century singers
- Buda Musique artists
- People from Jimma
- Deaths from heart disease