Mahmoud Ahmed
#72,238 Most Popular
About
Popular performer in the 1970s and 1980s, especially among Ethiopian refugees driven out by the military coups of the 1970s.
Before Fame
He was a shoe-shiner and also a handyman at the Arizona Club, where he became a regular performer in 1962 after pinch hitting for the band's singer.
Trivia
He was one of the first contemporary Ethiopian singers to become an international hit and perform in the United States.
Family Life
He was born of Gurage ancestry in Addis Ababa's Mercato district and grew up mesmerized by the music on the radio.
Associated With
He and Ry Cooder were both recipients of the BBC World Music Award.
