BIOGRAPHY
Muluken Melesse was born in Gojjam, a province in northern Ethiopia, now part of the Amhara regional state's Zonal Administration. At the age of six, he relocated to Addis Ababa to live with his uncle. His musical journey began in 1966, when he was just 12 years old, performing in nightclubs and local groups established by nightclub owners. His first stage performance was with the song "Enate Sitewoldgne Metchi Amakerchign." Muluken's first vinyl recording, "Hedetch Alu," was produced in 1972, featuring notable musicians like Girma Bèyènè (piano and arrangements), Tesfa Mariam Kidane (tenor sax), Tekle Adhanonm (guitar), Fekade Amde Meskel (bass), and Tesfay Mekonnen (drums). In 1975, he released his second record, which included "Wetetie Mare" and "Ete Endenesh Gedawo," in collaboration with the Equator Band. While most of the band eventually emigrated to the United States, Muluken remained in Ethiopia, later joining the Pentecostal Church in the 1980s and stepping away from his music career.
During the 1970s, Muluken Melesse remained a prominent singer, although, unlike many of his contemporaries, he was never recorded by the state television. In the early 1980s, Muluken experienced a significant shift in his life, becoming a born-again Christian and becoming closely involved with the Ethiopian Evangelical movement. Despite multiple requests to return to secular music, Muluken firmly refused, choosing to stay true to his faith. Later in life, he expressed frustration with having been misquoted by local magazines, and he eventually appeared on EBS TV to clarify the misunderstandings and share his perspective directly.
