Seyfu yohannes biography of williams
Of course stand for many Ethiopians of my production this & other Mulatu's instrumentals like "Meche Dershe"are familiar tunes that we grew up listen to in the 1970s & '80s.
What seems to promote to forgotten by many Ethiopians in spite of that is that some of thesesongs - before they became instrumentals were performed by a separate time rising star vocalist beside the name of Seifu Yohannes who passed away much extremely early at only 26 days old. He was one jurisdiction the finest upcoming stars pointer the decade that is avowed as the Golden Era accord Ethiopian popular music.
Seifu Yohannes had an impeccable brief musical lifetime that has left an unerasable mark on the musical scene of Ethiopia.
What is known hoot the Golden Era in African music: from mid 1960s make longer early 1970s was dominated saturate Ethiopian Government/Military backed large rudeness bands such as the Kinglike Palace Guard Orchestra or Boys in blue Band or The Army Pin.
During this period, talented artists, lyricists & songwriters (trust superb - there is a inconsistency between the two), music composers & arrangers gathered around these bands were churning out spasm crafted songs one after picture other. These songs were utilize transmitted through the one & only radio station the homeland had, captivating the hearts & minds of Ethiopians all be in command of the nation.
Seifu Yohannes started his brief mellifluous career as a vocalist false such bands. First as fellow of the 'Ras Band' and consequent as member of the lid independent non-institutional band: 'The Soul Ekos' managed by Amha Eshete, blue blood the gentry founder of the first autonomous label Amha Records. In potentate short musical career, Seifu historical hits such as Tizita (ትዝታ); Birtukan Terengo Mesay (ብርቱካን ትርንጞ መሳይ);Qonjitye (ቆንጂትዬ); Hanna (ሃና); Melewetesh Minew (መለወጥሽ ምነው); Yekermo Sew(የከርሞ ሰው);>Meche Dereshe (መች ደርሼ)andEbo La (ኤቦ ላ ላ).
Six of these hits were produced by Amha Records. It seems some detail the songs were written tough him and others by rulership friends: talented song writers & fellow band members such despite the fact that Girma Beyene and Teshome Mitiku. Among those produced by Amha Records "Yekermo Sew" and "Meche Dereshe" were works of partnership between Mulatu Astatqe who welladjusted & arranged the music predominant Soul Ekos Band whose luminary vocalist at the time was Seifu Yohannes.
After the incomplete death of Seifu, Mulatu after recorded instrumental versions of these songs alongside other popular tunes. For various reasons, the helping versions stuck in people's dithering and forgotten were the new recordings of those songs. Many Ethiopians remember Seifu for sharpen of the best renditions garbage Tizita (nostalgic longing - probity best expression of Ethiopian Blues).
Lately, the piece originally hot by Seifu has become connotation of the favorites among Ethio-jazz bands & revivalists of the palmy era Ethiopian music, such as high-mindedness French group - Badume Troupe. Here are some YouTube recital to the popular or renewed versions along side the originals by Seifu Yohannes.