Tilaye Gebre was a central figure in Ethiopian music during the mid- to late 1970s, a period now hard to document but rich with talent. His saxophone and arrangements are likely featured on many recordings from Addis Ababa of that era. Despite Ethiopia’s limited formal musical institutions, Tilaye trained at the Haile Selassie First Theatre music school, where he began studying saxophone instead of guitar under mentor Ato Aymre Gemeda. This instrument became his lifelong expressive voice.

Tilaye’s early involvement in a student band evolved into a smaller group focused on new music technology, and by age 17 he won a prestigious composition and arrangement award. As a founding member of the Equators and the Dahlak Band, he also played a key role in the lively hotel music scene in Addis Ababa. Later, he joined the famous Walias Band and toured extensively in the U.S., eventually settling there to further his career. His collaborations with legendary Ethiopian singers like Tilahun Gessesse, Mahmoud Ahmed, and Aster Aweke brought Ethiopian music to global audiences, including performances at renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall and Berklee College of Music.

During Ethiopia’s turbulent years under the Derg regime, Tilaye and the Dahlak Band maintained creativity and resilience. Their music mixed Ethiopian sounds with funk, soul, rhythm and blues, and disco, captured mostly in raw, live cassette recordings at the Ghion Hotel. Even under curfew restrictions, the band played late-night sessions demanding stamina and adaptability. Although political control limited formal album production, Tilaye’s influence on Ethiopian popular music was huge, shaping the sound of the 1970s despite many recordings being hard to find.

Tilaye’s later move to the U.S. expanded his musicianship internationally, solidifying his legacy as one of Ethiopia’s greatest saxophonists and arrangers. His unique style and collaborations remain treasured, enabling new generations to discover his work many decades after it was recorded.