Zeleke Gessesse Curriculum Vitae Mobile: Ethiopia – 0912 62 45 90. [email protected]

As a political refugee, who left his Ethiopian homeland 35 years ago when suppression overcame the country, Zeleke traveled to the United States with his fellow musicians and brothers from Africa to pursue his college education and his music.

In the U.S. they created one of the most successful music partnerships with , whose father, Bob Marley, had a deep affinity for Ethiopia as well as Africa .

Zeleke and his band Dallol, world-toured with Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers starting in the late 80s, Zeleke returned to his Chicago home between tours, to concentrate on his own music, releasing his first CD in 1995 Come to Me, while still working with Ziggy on his 1998 release, with hit songs Diamond City and Brotherly Love.

Beginning with the and , both multi million selling platinum albums produced with Ziggy Marley, Zeleke has seen the world connect to his blend of African and Ethiopian rhythm with Jamaican Reggae - introducing a global world beat sound that has enormous universal appeal. Zeleke's music, which unites the Marley 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 solo projects, Come to Me, 1996, Out of Africa 2000, and Selam produced with his 6-piece band, and recorded live in the Wild Hare Studio 2007, and his latest ,called Ayzon wich is produced in Ethiopia that includes the hit single Agere Agere was released in 2015, and you can transport yourself with his music to any destination club in the world. For the last 20 years Zeleke has traveled 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, and his brother Addis Gessesse, they have organized a charity organization called One Love Africa™, building thirty (30) One Love Africa primary schools for underprivileged African children in the rural parts of Ethiopia.

Zeleke Gessesse Bio While in Chicago, Zeleke established deeper roots there and became a founder of the wildly successful Wild Hare Reggae Club. There you could experience Zeleke's love of music and love of entertaining with a world beat sound. Zeleke and his band, along with the musician relationships he has established all over the world, is a sound millions have experienced. He was the president and CEO of the company for over 25 years and in those years the company grew from an initial investment of $50.0k in the late 80s , to acquiring the building in 1991 for $250.0k. Re-architecting the building in 1994, again in 1998 and 2006, the value of the building continued to grow while the club became a destination in Chicago, and USA, creating a building value of over $2.7 million in 2011.After the real estate value fall.

Zeleke’s skill in developing new programming and booking larger bands grew the club, on average, 11.7% over 5 years. While the building continued to appreciate, the club became known throughout the world with revenues reaching over $ 2 million by end of 2008. As the world experienced an economic downturn, Zeleke made an important decision in 2011 that would be life-changing. He sold the Chicago based Wild Hare to return to his homeland, where he is in the process of reconstructing his personal property into a Lexury, Spa living apartment building partnering with Ato Germa Gelaw CEO. Of Bamakon construction co. The residential property is located in the center of A.A.Bole road. Given his hospitality business background and his college education of business and music management, Zeleke chose to embark on a whole new vision, establishing a new growth career in his homeland. The thousands who attended the “closing” of the Wild Hare club in Chicago, vowed to come to his new Home Ethiopia to visit,and see him perform on the mega concerts he will produce, thereby insuring the new venture will be an immediate success. The 1st such concert was organised by Zeleke on June 6th 2017 at the Ghion Hotel compaund feturing his good friend Damian Marley ,wich atracted 10,000 attendies.and was one of the historic successful concert Addis Ababa has seen. Ethiopia will enjoy a growth in tourism and entertainment like never before. Nothing pleases Zeleke more than coming full circle with a new chapter which began with his roots in Ethiopia.

One love. Zeleke Gessesse

Zeleke Gessesse Bio