Michael Belayneh

Michael had an inclination towards music starting from his teen years. He says that he had a special interest and, at times, even tried to do some songs in the English language. He did his first stage show in a quite inadvertent way. It was in the concord hotel and the singer who sang English songs for a few years suddenly left the job and Michael was asked to cover up for him, which he did. This helped him to develop the talent even further.

He said that although he is a graduate of the Bahar Dar Polytechnic, he left his professional training in favour of music. Michael and Girma Yifrashewa, the well known Pianist were both sponsored by Alliance Ethio-Frances to produce an album. Besides piano, few foreign based musicians (cello and violin) took part in the production of the album. They toured several cities abroad. Michael says that he was inspired by Girma into doing something new.

Asked how he can hope to get acceptance by a foreign audience who hardly listen the Amharic language, he said music is ''the language of the world”.

Asked why he failed to serve in the position of the board member of the Ethiopian Musicians Association to which he was elected, he cited the pressure he was under then due to a new album he was preparing to release. He added that he dully resigned from the position and he is ready to show up whenever his service is deemed necessary.

He spoke of Elias Melka as one of the best music arrangers and player of musical instruments. He said how lucky he was to work with Elias and gave credit to him for the public acceptance of his album.

Asked about the notion that many singers who rely on a studio computer to refine their voice during recordings fail to sing as well during live shows, Michael begged to differ, saying that even though artists were supported by computer inputs, one cannot deny that they already have the talent in the first place. The role of the computer is not to give them a voice. Had this been the case, then music arrangers would have turned themselves into singers rather than arranging for someone else, he said.

Michael was co-managing Purple Café, where he also sang lived. He hired Tewodros Kassahun (before he hit his present fame) to sing in the Café. His reason to continue in the music business and release an album lies in the opportunity he got to work with such famous music personalities like Getachew Degefu and Dawit Yifru as well as with members of the Zemen Band.
His favourite song is “Musika Merchaye”.