Short Biography of Muluken Melesse

Muluken Melesse was born in northern Ethiopia province of Gojjiam. After traving extensively with his uncle a age of six settled in Addis Ababa. The phenomenally precocious Muluken Melesse 91-2-3-)was just 12 when he began his singing career in 1966 Patric Lumuba night club .Like many vocalists of the period, he started off with the different Police bands, and went on to sing with the first non-institutional groups of those founded by nightclub owners(Blue Nile Band, Zula Band, Venus Band, Equators Band...). "Hedetch Alu" is the very first song he recorded on vinyl at the beginning of 1972. The All Star Band which accompanied him here was composed of Girma Beyene(piano and arrangements). Tesfa Mariam Kidane(tenor sax), Tekle Adhanonm(guitar), Fekade Amde Meskel(bass) and Tesfay Mekonnen(drums). Three years later, it was with Equator Band that he recorded "Wetetie Mare and Ete Endenesh Gedawo" under the leadership of Tilaye Gebre. After one last try under the name Dahlak Band, they too went into exile in American,but not before recording together for Ali Tango some of the best pieces of modern Ethiopian music.Once in contact with American traditions, Tilaye, the tenor sax, continued to perfect his style and sound, but paid homage to his Ethiopian mentors, Tsegaye Debalqe, Habete Giorgis Aymre Germeda and Nerses Nalbandian, dedicating the instrument CD he released 20 years later in the USA to them(Shakisso Records, 1995). Muluken however, abandoned his career in 1980s to devote himself to the Pentacostal church. Wishful thinking among Ethiopians regularly gives riseto rumors of a comeback, but none has materialised as yet.