Alemayehu Eshete Andarge (Amharic: ዓለማየሁ እሸቴ አንዳርጌ; June 1941 – 2 September 2021) was an Ethiopian singer, widely known as the "Abyssinian Elvis" for his dynamic performances and his fusion of traditional Ethiopian music with Western rock and roll influences. He emerged in the 1960s and became a prominent figure in the

Ethio-jazz Ethiopian jazz, also referred to as Ethio-jazz, is a blend of traditional Ethiopian music with jazz, combining the pentatonic scale-based melodies of Amharic music with the 12-tone scale and instrumentation of western music. Over time the genre ...

movement, alongside musicians such as

Mulatu Astatke Mulatu Astatke (; French pronunciation: Astatqé; born 19 December 1943) is an Ethiopian musician and arranger considered as the father of "Ethio-jazz". Born in Jimma, Mulatu was musically trained in London, New York City, and Boston where he ...

. Eshete's music blended Ethiopian rhythms with elements of funk, soul, and jazz, and his hit songs include ''Temar Lije'' and ''Addis Ababa Bete''. His international recognition grew following the release of the

Éthiopiques ''Éthiopiques'' is a series of compact discs featuring Ethiopian singers and musicians. Many of the CDs compile songs from various singles and albums that Amha Records, Kaifa Records and Philips-Ethiopia released during the 1960s and 1970s in Et ...

series, which featured many of his early recordings. Eshete continued to perform until his death in 2021, leaving a lasting legacy in Ethiopian and world music. His contributions were widely recognized both in Ethiopia and internationally.

Life and career

Early life

Alemayehu Eshete was born in June 1941 in

Addis Ababa Addis Ababa (; ,) is the capital city of Ethiopia, as well as the regional state of Oromia. With an estimated population of 2,739,551 inhabitants as of the 2007 census, it is the largest city in the country and the List of cities in Africa b ...

, where his father worked as a taxi driver. When Alemayehu was two months old, his mother took him to

Dessie Dessie (; also spelled Dese or Dessye) is a town in north-central Ethiopia. Located in the South Wollo Zone of the Amhara Region, it sits at a latitude and longitude of , with an elevation between 2,470 and 2,550 metres above sea level. Dessie ...

, where they stayed until he was three. His father brought him back to Addis Ababa to ensure he received an education. Alemayehu enrolled at the Christian Training Institute near Yohannes Church, where his musical talent was first recognized while singing hymns. As a young boy, he idolized

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one of the most significant cultural figures of the ...

, mimicking his style and performing songs like

Jailhouse Rock (song) "Jailhouse Rock" is a rock and roll song recorded by American singer Elvis Presley for the film of the same name. It was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. RCA Victor released the song on a 45 rpm single on September 24, 1957, and as a 78 ...

for his friends.

Career

Alemayehu’s talent was recognized by Colonel Retta Demeqe, who invited him to perform with Addis Ababa's Police Orchestra. In 1961, he had his first hit, "Seul," and later founded the Alem-Girma Band with

Girma Bèyènè Girma Bèyènè (Amharic: ግርማ በየነ), born in Addis Ababa, is an Ethiopian lyricist, composer, arranger, vocalist, and pianist, most active during the golden era of Ethiopian vinyl records (1969–78). He is a great performer, even now ...

. Throughout his career, Alemayehu became known for blending American rock with traditional Ethiopian music, particularly during the late 1960s' "swinging Addis" era. His fame expanded globally after the release of the

series: Volume 9 is entirely devoted to his early recordings,ETHIOPIQUES VOLUME 09 on Buda Musique
, Retrieved 10 September 2012. while Volume 22 covers his work between 1972 and 1974. Other songs appear in Volumes 3, 8, 10, and 13. In 2008, he toured the United States with

Mahmoud Ahmed Mahmoud Ahmed (Amharic language, Amharic: ማሕሙድ አሕመድ; born 8 May 1941) is an Ethiopian singer. He gained great popularity in Ethiopian Golden Age of music, Ethiopia in the 1970s and among the Ethiopian diaspora in the 1980s, bef ...

, performing with Boston's Either/Orchestra.

Death

Alemayehu Eshete died at midnight on 2 September 2021 in a hospital in Addis Ababa. He had been suffering from heart disease in the years leading up to his death, and had undergone surgery for blocked arteries five years prior. In his final days, he spent time with friends but experienced discomfort before being admitted to the hospital. He was buried on 7 September 2021 at

Holy Trinity Cathedral, Addis Ababa Holy Trinity Cathedral, also known in Amharic as Kidist Selassie, is the highest ranking Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo cathedral in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It was built to commemorate the Ethiopian victory over Italian occupation and is an importa ...

. A large farewell ceremony took place at

Meskel Square Meskel Square () is a public square in the city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It is often a site for Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church gatherings or for demonstrations and festivals, notably, the Meskel Festival from which it takes its name. H ...

, attended by tens of thousands of people, where his iconic songs ''Temar Lije'' and ''Addis Ababa Bete'' were played in tribute. Alemayehu is survived by seven children and six grandchildren.

Discography

References

External links

Addis Journal: Stencil Paintings for the Ethiopian Music Festival
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Eshete, Alemayehu 1941 births 2021 deaths 20th-century Ethiopian male singers Ethiopian jazz musicians 21st-century Ethiopian male singers Buda Musique artists