Hailu Mergia is a renowned Ethiopian musician and accordionist whose career spans several decades, with a resurgence in popularity in the 21st century. Mergia's music is characterized by a blend of traditional Ethiopian tunes and jazz-infused styles, making him a significant figure in the world of Ethio-jazz. He gained fame in the 1970s as a member of the Walias Band, a group that was instrumental in the development of modern Ethiopian music and became one of the first from the region to tour internationally.

In the 1980s, political unrest in Ethiopia led Mergia to emigrate to the United States, where he balanced a career as a cab driver with his musical endeavors, often practicing his keyboard in his taxi between fares. For years, his innovative sound remained a hidden treasure to the broader public. The reissue of his 1985 album "Hailu Mergia and His Classical Instrument" by Awesome Tapes from Africa in 2013 heralded a remarkable comeback. It reintroduced his fusion of jazz and Ethiopian music to a wider audience and reignited his performing career. Following the reissue, Mergia released new works such as "Lala Belu" in 2018 and "Yene Mircha" in 2020, once again capturing the attention of music aficionados worldwide and solidifying his status as an enduring icon in the global music scene.

Genres

Ethio-jazz

Related Artists

Mulatu Astatke

Mahmoud Ahmed

Getatchew Mekurya

The Budos Band

Hakim

Antibalas

Girma Bèyènè

Karl Hector & The Malcouns

Latest Release

Pioneer Works Swing (Live) [Standard]

Hailu Mergia

Album - 8 Tracks - Released November 3, 2023