Addis Ababa
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Alemayehu Eshete (1941 – 2 September 2021) was an Ethiopian singer. He performed since the 1960s and primarily in Amharic. He had been nicknamed "the Ethiopian Elvis".
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. 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, 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.
Discography
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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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