Muluken Melesse

Muluken was born in Gojjam, a province in northern Ethiopia now a Zonal Administration in the Amhara regional state. When he was six, he moved to Addis Ababa with his uncle. In 1966, aged 12, he began his musical career singing at night clubs and in groups founded by night club owners, with his first song to be performed on stage, Enate Sitewoldgne Metchi Amakerchign.

His first song on vinyl was Hedetch Alu, which was recorded in 1972 by Girma Bèyènè (piano and arrangements), Tesfa Mariam Kidane (tenor sax), Tekle Adhanonm (guitar), Fekade Amde Meskel (bass), Tesfay Mekonnen (drums) and Melesse himself. In 1975, he recorded his second song, "Wetetie Mare and Ete Endenesh Gedawo", with Equator Band. While the rest of the band emigrated to the United States of America, Muluken remained to join the Pentecostal Church in the 1980s, having ended his musical career.

While he remained one of the best voices of the Ethiopian 1970s, unlike other performers of the time, Muluken never seems to have been taped by the official state television.

Sometime in the early 1980s Muluken became a born-again Christian, mostly associated with the Ethiopian Evangelical movement.

Muluken has supposedly been repeatedly approached to return to his secular music roots but his refusal has, as of April 2018, has been steadfast. Recently he has had some interviews where he decried he was misquoted by magazine editors in Ethiopia. He came out on EBS TV to set the record straight.

Muluken is married and resides in Washington, DC metropolitan area. He ministers by traveling all over the world. Famous songs by Melesse include "Menew Kerefede", "Yeregeme Lebe", "Lebo Ney", "Kumetish Loga New", "Wedijesh Nebere" and "Tenesh Kelbe Lay". His song "Nanu Nanu Ney" was an old favorite.

One of Muluken's quality as a musician is to work on the lyrics given to him by the songwriters. He never takes every word as is presented to him. He changes a lot of the writing to suit his style, sometimes to the point that he seems to have co-written the music. He was lucky that most of the writers understood him to consent to his whims. Tesfaye Lemessa and Alemtsehay Wodajo are among the most celebrated song writers whose work he performed.

Albums

Agrewa Wasa Megena - Number One (1) - album with Dahlak Band Arraged by Dawit Yifru, Piano Dawit Yifru, David Kassa Ledguitar, Bassguitar Abera Fiyesa, Drum Tesfaye Tesmma. Produced by Tango Music Shope

Nanu Nanu Ney - Number Two(2) - album with Dahlak Band Arranged by Dawit Yifru And Muluken Melesse, Piano - Dawit Yifru, Ledguitar - David Kassa, Bassguitar - Abera Fiyesa, Drum - Tesfaye Tesmma, Saxophone - Tilaye Gebre, Trumpet - Shimeles Beyene. Produced by Electra Music shope

Kunsense - Number Three(3) album with Ibex Band Lyrics and Melody Tesfaye Lemmsa, Grima Beyene arranger, Hailu Mergia arranger, Muluken Melesse arranger, Alemseged Kebede Bassguitar, Mahmoud Amain Ledguitar, Girma Beyene Piano, Hailu Mergia Organ, Moges Hbete Saxophone, Yohannes Tekola Trumpet, Temare Haregu Drum. Produced by Super Sonic Music shop

Sewenetua - Number Four(4) album with Dahlak Band Arranged by Dawit Yifru Muluken Melesse, Dawit Yifru Piano, Moges Habte Saxophone, Tilaye Gebre Saxophone, Shimeles Beyene Trumpet, Keyboad Dawit Yifru, Abera Fiyesa Bassguitar, David Kassa Ledguitar, Tesfaye Tesmma Drum. Produced by Super Sonic Music Shope

Lakilegne - Number Five(5) album with Dahlak Band, Arranged by Dawit Yifru and David Kassa Lyrics Alemtsehay Wedajo, Melody Muluken Melesse and Halilayasues Amare, Piano Dawit Yifru,Ledguitar David Kassa, Bassguitar Abera Fiyesa, Drum Tesfaye Tesmma Saxophone Tilaye Gebre, Trumpet Shimeles Beyene. Produced by Central Electronics Music Shope

Yelebe Endiders - Number six(6) album with Roha Band Arranged by Dawit Yifru and Muluken Melesse, Dawit Yifru Keyboard, Selam Syoum Lead guitar, Giovanni Rico Bonsignori Bassguitar, Eliyas Bekele , Drums Yonas Degefa Saxophone, Fikade Amdemeskel Saxophone Produced by Central Electronics Music Shope

Wuha Welawaye - Number Seven(7) album with Ethio Star Band Arranged by Muluken Melesse and Mulatu Astatke

(A Side)

1. Wuha Welawaye lyrics Yilma Gebreab melody Abebe Melesse.
2. Tizaz Begelaye lyrics Alemtsehay Wedajo Melody Yonas Mulatu.
3. Demam Gone Lyrics Yilma Gebreab Melody Abebe Melesse.
4. KureTilign Hode Lyrics Alemtsehay Wedajo Melody Alemayehu Abebe.

(B Side)

1. Zebliqum Lyrics Alemtsehay Wedajo Melody Abebe Melesse.
2. Kumetish Loganew Lyrics Alemtsehay Wedajo Melody Yonas Mulatu.
3. Lewozawoz Lyrics Fekert Haliu and Yilma Gebreab.
4. Atikebidegnem Lyrics Alemtsehay Wedajo Melody Yonas Mulatu.
5. Endit Lechalew Lyrics Fekert Haliu Melody Muluken Melesse,

Ledguitar Mengsha Teffra, Bassguitar David Kassa,Drum Berhane Yosef, Keyboard Abegasu Kebrework,Conga,Keyboard,Drum Mulatu Astatke,Saxophone Girma Woldemichael, Saxophone Teshome Deneke,Trumpet Shimeles Beyene.

• An album of his music, Muluken Melesse Vol. 1'' is available from AIT Records.

Contributing artist

• The Rough Guide to the Music of Ethiopia (2004, World Music Network)

• GeoCities Article on Melesse at the Wayback Machine (archived October 27, 2009), retrieved on March 10, 2007
• Melesse information page retrieved on March 10, 2007
• Fan site 'Music' page:
  • nanu nanu ney
  • agerwa wasa megena
  • lakilgn
  • sewnetwa
  • yelbe endiders