Zeleke
As
a political refugee, who left his homeland 19 years ago when
suppression overcame Ethiopia, Zeleke traveled to the Unite
States with his fellow musicians and brothers from Africa
to pursue his college education and his music.
Here
they created one of the most successful music partnerships
with Ziggy Marley, whose father, Bob Marley, had a deep affinity
for Ethiopia as well as all of Africa.
Zeleke
and his band Dallol, world -toured with Ziggy Marley and the
Melody Makers starting in 1984. Zeleke returned to Chicago,
where he made his home, to concentrate on his own music, releasing
his first CD in 1995 Come to Me, While still working with
Ziggy on his 1998 release, Fallen is Babylon's Diamond City
and Brotherly love.
Beginning
with the albums Conscious party and One Bright Day, which
were produced with Ziggy Marley, Zeleke has shown the world
that his connection to African and Ethiopian rhythm with Jamaican
Reggae can blend into a global world beat sound that has universal
appeal.
Zeleke's
music, which unites Marley's vision of One Love and his own
vision of universal peace, flows with many languages in each
song. Combining Amharic, his native tongue of Ethiopia, with
English and the patios of Jamaica, Zeleke's sound is as unique
as his music and his background. Zeleke has continued to forge
ahead with his own unique sound and message to the world.
Listen to the dance rhythms of eastern Africa, on his new
CD Out of Africa, produced with his 6-piece band, and you
can transport yourself to any club in the world.
For
the last 4 years Zeleke has been traveling back to Ethiopia
where his message of unity and tolerance has made him a household
name in eastern Africa. Together, with his long time friend
Ziggy Marley, they have been organizing a charity organization
to build schools for underprivileged African children.
As
a founder of the wildly successful Wild Hare Reggae Club in
Chicago, you can experience Zeleke's love of music and love
of entertaining. Zeleke and his band, along with the musician
relationships he has established all over the world, is a
sound well worth experiencing - whether on tour, or in his
homeland in Ethiopia or in his club in Chicago. One Love
