Part I of my tribute to Tilahun Gessesse concluded on a late summer evening in 1966, when staff Amharic teachers and I performed his beautiful song “Oo-oota Ayaskeffam” in a music show during Peace Corps training at the University of Utah. Sutton’s Tribute to Tilahun Gessesse – Part II – Ye Muzika Metsihet All of Ethiopia, and music lovers around the world, are in mourning.
This is the first of a three-part appreciation and reminisence by Charles Sutton about his friend, the supremely gifted singer, Tilahun Gessesse, who passed away on Apin Addis Ababa. Characteristically, Charlie often directs the proceeds from his CD sales to the Institute for Ethiopian Studies or another deserving beneficiary. In a recent recording, Charlie played masinko and sang, in Amharic, naturally, with two long-time Ethiopian musician friends. In his jazz, Charlie’s improvisations reveal the depth to which Ethiopia has entered his soul. He is still a working musician both as a teacher and a performer. His friends and acquaintances know Charlie to be a gracious, warm and generous man, thoughtful and polite to a fault. He describes the impact of that discovery, which directed his life toward a deep and lasting relationship with Ethiopia, its people - particularly musicians, and its language, in which his fluency and elegance continue to astonish.Ĭharlie needs only a brief introduction from me since he will provide the rest himself. He was a musician, and even before he arrived, Charlie had discovered Ethiopian music through his Amharic language instructors.
The following is a tributeĬharles Sutton - usually known as Charlie - came to Ethiopia with the Peace Corps in 1996. On April 19, 2009, Ethiopians lost the greatest popular musician the country has ever produced, the supremely gifted singer, Tilahun Gessesse.
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