Lebo M.

Born as Lebo Morake in Soweto, South Africa, the composer Lebo M. first entered music by performing American R&B and rock standards with a local pop group at age nine. His debut single arrived when he turned twelve, as EMI South Africa put out ‘Celebration,’ yet he earned just $20 in payment even though the track succeeded regionally. Disillusioned by the widespread graft plaguing the music industry under apartheid, he moved to nearby Lesotho and took the role of house singer at the Victoria Hotel. While working there he performed for numerous visitors, among them U.S. ambassador Tim Thashane, who encouraged him to travel to America for studies at the Duke Ellington School of Music in Washington. He continued his education at Los Angeles Community College and sang at open-mic events held at the Memory Lane nightclub owned by actress Maria Gibbs. This path eventually brought him to composer Hans Zimmer, who was then scoring The Power Of One. Lebo went on to co-write, arrange, and produce the film’s accompanying soundtrack album. The experience opened doors to additional assignments, in which he supplied genuine African percussion and township rhythms for pictures such as Congo, Outbreak, Made In America and Born To Be Wild. Zimmer later invited him to contribute to The Lion King, the internationally celebrated Walt Disney animated film. Their joint composition ‘The Circle Of Life’ earned a 1995 Grammy for best instrumental arrangement with accompanying vocal. Lebo next created the music for the Broadway production of The Lion King, an undertaking he has described as his most challenging experience so far. Required to write fresh pieces and chants for the show, he collected the new material into his first album on Walt Disney Records, issued in 1996. A follow-up release soon appeared on the South African label Gallo International. Deeper Meaning displayed a broader range, blending hip-hop, R&B, lush orchestration and traditional African flourishes. He also collaborated with Quincy Jones on the charity tribute album marking Nelson Mandela’s 80th birthday.