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{{Short description|South African producer and composer}}
'''Lebo Morake''', commonly known as '''Lebo M''', is a [[South Africa]]n [[composer]] most famous for arranging and performing music for the ''[[The Lion King|Lion King]]'' movies and stage productions. He was recommended to [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]] by [[Hans Zimmer]], the score composer of ''The Lion King'', and was later permitted to form and conduct the African choir that sang for the movies. His voice is the first voice heard in the beginning of the film, singing the now famous chant (Often considered synonymous with the film's image in [[popular culture]]) over the opening sequence. He also contributed to the sequel to the film's soundtrack, ''[[Rhythm of the Pride Lands]]'', and the film's direct-to-video sequel ''[[The Lion King II: Simba's Pride]].
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name = Lebo M
| image =
| Img =
| image_size =
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Lebohang Morake
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|7|11|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Soweto]], [[Johannesburg]], South Africa
| origin =
| instrument = Vocals
| genre =
| occupation = Producer, composer, arranger, performer
| years_active = 1994–present
| label = Till Dawn Entertainment
| associated_acts = [[Jimmy Cliff]], [[Hans Zimmer]], [[Mark Mancina]], [[Alan Silvestri]]
| website =
}}
'''Lebohang Morake''' (born 11 July 1964),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300&mode=results&searchstr=1532369&search_in=c&search_type=exact&search_det=t,s,w,p,b,v&results_pp=20&start=1|title=Works written by: MORAKE LEBOHANG|work=ACE Title Search|publisher=[[American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers]]|accessdate=2008-10-05}}</ref> known as '''Lebo M''', is a<!--awards and nominations don't belong here--> South African [[Record producer|producer]] and [[composer]], known for his songwriting and vocal work on the soundtracks to films such as ''[[The Lion King]], [[The Power of One (film)|The Power of One]]'' and ''[[Outbreak (film)|Outbreak]]'' and numerous [[Theatre|stage productions]]. He was recommended to [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]] by [[Hans Zimmer]], the composer of both adaptations of ''The Lion King'', and formed and conducted the African choir that sang for the films.


==Biography==
== Early life ==
Lebohang Morake was born on 11 July 1964 in [[Soweto]], [[Johannesburg]], South Africa. With no formal training in music,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/review/a-strong-voice-loud-and-proud/news-story/863b8d35d7b12f16940434de09d9126c|title=A strong voice, loud and proud|last=Pegg|first=Cameron|date=2018-12-07|website=The Weekend Australian|access-date=2019-07-13}}</ref> he left school at the age of nine to perform music in night clubs.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2013/01/16/showbiz/lebo-m-lion-king/index.html|title=Roaring success of 'Lion King' musician|last=Barnett|first=Errol|date=2013-01-16|website=CNN|access-date=2019-07-13}}</ref> Morake recorded his first [[Single (music)|single]], "Celebration", when he was 13 years old, receiving only $20 for recording the record.<ref name="SmithBillboard19980822">{{cite magazine|author=Smith|first=Shawnee|date=22 August 1998|title=Lebo M Draws On Sounds Of Africa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EQoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA32|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=32, 86|issn=0006-2510|access-date=2019-07-13}}</ref> When he was 13 years old, Morake became the youngest performer to sing at the nightclub Club Pelican, when he filled in for a [[Backing vocalist|backup singer]] who could not attend.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://mg.co.za/article/2019-07-12-00-lebo-m-circles-his-lion-king-life/|title=Lebo M on the Lion King, and his own circle of life|last=Allison|first=Simon|date=2019-07-12|website=Mail & Guardian|language=en|access-date=2019-07-13}}</ref>
Star mentality -- it's not something often found in the dusty streets of Soweto, South Africa, but one of its denizens discovered that it would literally transport him into the arms of America's most prestigious members of the music industry. As a black man in South Africa, life was never easy. Coming to America to pursue a career in entertainment might not ever cross a person's mind, much less become a reality. Aside from his extraordinary talent and drive, Lebo M possesses a special quality that makes everyone he meets want to do anything for him.


== Career ==
Lebo M (an abbreviated version of his last name, Morake) left school and began his career at the age of 9. Performing in the emotive nightclubs in his native Soweto, he was inspired by the songs of the diamond mine workers and Zulu music. "The early 30's American jazz and R&B were very popular in my country," Lebo says with a heartwarming smile. "I loved Marvin Gaye and The Commodores, my father could sing any Louis Armstrong song and my mom was really into American jazz."
=== Early career ===
In 1979, Morake sought to broaden his horizons, so he left by bus for [[Maseru]], [[Lesotho]] after hearing that a new club was going to be opening there.<ref name=":1" /> In Maseru, due to the [[apartheid]] system, he was under exile.<ref name="SmithBillboard19980822" /><ref name=":1" /> At 15, he was working as a singer in the Victoria Hotel in Lesotho when Lesotho's [[List of ambassadors to the United States|Ambassador to the United States]] Tim Thahane noticed him and appreciated his musical abilities.<ref name="SmithBillboard19980822" /> Thahane helped Morake apply to the [[Duke Ellington School of the Arts]], coordinating with the [[TransAfrica]] organization to send the singer to the [[United States]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Billboard19980214">{{cite magazine|date=14 February 1998|title='Lion King' Stage Score A Departure For Broadway|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5A0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA67|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=67|issn=0006-2510|access-date=2019-07-13}}</ref> Morake lived at first in New York, again playing in restaurants and bars, and was supported by Black churches to attend music school.<ref name=":1" /> Morake moved to [[Los Angeles]] when he was 18 to pursue a music career.<ref name="Billboard19980214" />


=== Start in Hollywood ===
Seduced by these inspirations, Lebo took to the streets where he indulged in the ghetto gangs, but always carried with him a deep desire to become an entertainer. At age 13, he became the youngest nightclub performer in Soweto. As the headline act at the top club, "The Pelican," a producer in the audience one evening invited him to record a single. "He just threw me in the studio and said 'sing,'" Lebo remembers.
In [[Los Angeles]], he struggled to make ends meet, working odd jobs to survive while studying at [[Los Angeles City College]].<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /> He performed sometimes at Memory Lane, a [[nightclub]] owned by [[Marla Gibbs]].<ref name="SmithBillboard19980822" /> Morake was asked to help find a [[choir]] for the [[Academy Awards|Oscars]], so that they could perform music from 1987's ''[[Cry Freedom]]'', a film about South Africa that was nominated for multiple [[Academy Awards]], including one for [[Academy Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]].<ref name=":0" /> He made further strides in his music career when by chance, he ran into childhood friend Solly Letwaba, who was the bassist for [[Johnny Clegg]]. Letwaba introduced Morake to Clegg's producer, Hilton Rosenthal, who employed Morake as an [[Internship|intern]] and [[gofer]] for his production studio.<ref name=":1" /> Rosenthal was the music supervisor on the film ''[[The Power of One (film)|The Power of One]]'', and through him, Morake met the film's composer, [[Hans Zimmer]].<ref name=":2" /> After being asked about some ideas for the film's soundtrack, Morake ended up co-writing and co-producing the music for ''The Power of One'' with Zimmer, helping to arrange the choruses.<ref name="SmithBillboard19980822" /> Morake used his knowledge of [[Rhythm in Sub-Saharan Africa|African rhythms]] to compose the [[soundtrack]]s to other films, such as ''[[Congo (film)|Congo]]'' (1995), ''[[Outbreak (film)|Outbreak]]'' (1995), and ''[[Born to Be Wild (1995 film)|Born to be Wild]]'' (1995)''.''<ref name=":1" /> He decided to return to South Africa in the early 1990s, after the end of apartheid.<ref name=":2" />


=== The Lion King ===
Recording his first record developed Lebo's professionalism as a singer, but most of all gave him confidence to spread his wings. In 1978, he left home for Lesotho, where he and his best friend Vernon entertained foreigners at the Victoria Hotel.
Morake wrote and sang the opening Zulu chant at the beginning of Disney's ''[[The Lion King]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-12 |title=Lebo M circles his Lion King life |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2019-07-12-00-lebo-m-circles-his-lion-king-life/ |access-date=2020-08-16 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref> for which he was sought by Zimmer.<ref name="Billboard19980214" /> He also contributed to the sequel to the film's soundtrack, ''[[Rhythm of the Pride Lands]]'', and the film's direct-to-video sequel ''[[The Lion King II: Simba's Pride]]''.


The duo composed so much music that Disney approved of an additional soundtrack album, ''[[Rhythm of the Pride Lands]]'', containing extra compositions.<ref name=":0" /> ''The Lion King's'' [[The Lion King (1994 soundtrack)|original soundtrack]], with the compositions that had made the cut for the theatrical release, earned the two composers a [[Grammy Award]], and Zimmer won an [[Academy Award for Best Original Score]].<ref name=":0" /> Morake also helped score ''[[The Lion King (musical)|The Lion King]]'s'' stage musical, creating new music and adding pieces from ''Rhythm of the Pride Lands''.<ref name="SmithBillboard19980822" /> The musical was nominated for [[Tony Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]] at the [[52nd Tony Awards]] in 1998.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/list-of-1998-tony-award-winners-com-78959|title=List of 1998 Tony Award Winners|date=1998-12-14|website=Playbill|language=en|access-date=2019-07-14}}</ref>
They remained there in exile until meeting a man who broadened their views, providing visions of what might await them in America -- that man happened to be the Ambassador to the U.S., Tim Thahane. Recognizing their exceptional talent and drive, Thahane arranged for them to take the admission exams at the Duke Ellington School of Music in Washington, D.C.


He founded the Lebo M Foundation and Till Dawn Entertainment.
In Washington D.C., Lebo and Vernon were adopted by a church and played piano in the choir. "I loved gospel, and it was my first wish to hear the choirs at an African American church," says Lebo. At every opportunity available, he created his own music in impromptu sessions. His African musical style thrilled audiences, but most importantly provided a barometer from which he received immediate feedback on his compositions.


On 23 July 2019, Morake performed '[[Circle of Life]]' and '[[He Lives in You]]' at the opening ceremony of the [[24th World Scout Jamboree]].
Both Lebo and Vernon passed the exams at Duke Ellington, and spent 3 years there. They then went to New York and continued on at the New Metropolitan School of Arts. While at school, they performed in a band with their old friend Muntu (son of Caiphus Semanya author of some of Miriam Makaba, Hugh Masekela and Letta Mbulu's hits) and played the clubs in New York. Suddenly, in 1983, they left for Los Angeles, per the invitation of an acquaintance.


== Personal life ==
The City of Angels quickly became a scene of despair as Lebo found himself literally begging on downtown street corners, he was only 18 years old. But the outlook quickly brightened when he landed his first job at McDonald's and enrolled at Los Angeles City College. While attending classes, Lebo worked non-stop parking cars, washing dishes, tending a hot dog stand in Watts, cleaning church floors, anything to make ends meet.
Morake was [[Marriage|married]] to Viveca Gipson for 5 years. He [[divorce]]d her and married Nandi Ndlovu and they were together for 11 years. He then divorced Ndlovu and married Angela Ngani-Casara for five years, from 2008 to 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|title='The M stands for marriage' – SA reacts to news Lebo M could wed for 5th time|url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/pic-of-the-day/2019-10-16-the-m-stands-for-marriage-sa-reacts-to-news-lebo-m-could-wed-for-5th-time/|access-date=2020-08-16|website=SowetanLIVE|language=en-ZA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Lebo M To Wed Again?|url=https://zalebs.com/relationships/lebo-mathosa/lebo-m-to-wed-again|access-date=2020-08-27|website=ZAlebs|language=en}}</ref> Morake became engaged to Zoe Mthiyane but their relationship ended in 2016. He remarried his third wife, Angela, but they divorced again in 2017.<ref name="dailysun.co.za">{{Cite web|title=LEBO M TO WALK DOWN THE ISLE AGAIN!|url=https://www.dailysun.co.za/Celebs/lebo-m-to-walk-down-the-isle-again-20191013|access-date=2020-08-16|website=DailySun}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Carter|first=Logan|date=2020-06-07|title=Lebo M Has Broken Up With His Fourth Girlfriend|url=https://www.sarichandfamous.com/2020/06/07/lebo-m-has-broken-up-with-his-fourth-girlfriend/|access-date=2020-08-27|website=South Africa's Rich and Famous|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-10-14|title=Lebo M reportedly set to wed AGAIN|url=https://www.all4women.co.za/1864559/celebs/lebo-m-reportedly-set-to-wed-again|access-date=2020-08-27|website=All4Women|language=en-ZA}}</ref> He lives with his family in [[Johannesburg]] and Los Angeles.<ref name="dailysun.co.za"/>
His daughter Refi is also a singer who often performs by his side.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.hollywoodinvienna.com/en/people/lebo-m-refi-sings | title=Hollywood in Vienna }}</ref> In
April 2021,{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}} Morake got engaged to partner Pretty Samuels, in 2023 he had presumably filed for divorce.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Keteyi |first=Oluthando |author-link=IOL (South Africa) |date=2 August 2023 |title=Lebo M to divorce his wife Pretty Samuels-Morake after a year of wedded bliss |url=https://www.iol.co.za/entertainment/celebrity-news/local/lebo-m-to-divorce-his-wife-pretty-samuels-morake-after-a-year-of-wedded-bliss-d7a9223f-b513-49ea-85c0-1e6867a6bfd6 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118023810/https://www.iol.co.za/entertainment/celebrity-news/local/lebo-m-to-divorce-his-wife-pretty-samuels-morake-after-a-year-of-wedded-bliss-d7a9223f-b513-49ea-85c0-1e6867a6bfd6 |archive-date=18 January 2024 |access-date=5 February 2024 |work=News 24}}</ref>


== Filmography ==
His first showcase at Marla Gibbs' Memory Lane on King Boulevard led him back into the entertainment arena. There, he met bassist Del Atkins who became one of his closest friends and taught him about the L.A. music scene. Lebo and Del worked together with some of L.A.'s top musicians which included the Earth, Wind & Fire horn section.
Lebo Morake has composed, arranged, performed and produced music for the following films:
* ''[[The Lion King]]'' ([[The Lion King (1994 soundtrack)|soundtrack]])
* ''[[The Lion King II: Simba's Pride]]''
* ''[[The Lion King 1½]]''
* ''[[The Lion King (musical)]]'' – singer at One by One
* ''[[The Power of One (film)|The Power of One]]''
* ''[[Dinosaur (2000 film)|Dinosaur]]''
* ''[[Disney's Animal Kingdom]]: The First Adventure''
* ''[[Tears of the Sun]]''
* ''[[Back on the Block]]''
* ''[[Atlantis: The Lost Empire]]''
* ''Listen Up: The Life of [[Quincy Jones]]''
* ''[[Outbreak (film)|Outbreak]]''
* ''[[Congo (film)|Congo]]''
* ''[[Born to Be Wild (1995 film)|Born to Be Wild]]''
* ''[[Long Night's Journey Into Day]]''
* ''[[The Lion King (2019 film)|The Lion King]]'' (2019 remake)
* ''[[The Woman King]]'' (2022)


== Discography ==
In 1988, Lebo performed in a 9-month musical stage production ("Buwa") in Africa, but quickly returned when asked to create an African choir for the Academy Awards "Cry Freedom" nomination. His first big gig in the U.S., the Academy Awards telecast, was given a standing ovation.
* ''How Wonderful We Are'' (1995)
* ''[[Rhythm of the Pride Lands]]'' (1995)
* ''Lebo M: Deeper Meaning'' (1997)
* ''[[Return to Pride Rock]]'' (1998)
* ''Lebo M Presents: Open Summahhh Open Happiness'' (2009)


== References ==
From there, things continued to spiral upward, and Lebo worked on the Oscar nominated short film "Senzinina." He then tackled the most challenging project of his career when he co-wrote the music and lyrics, co-produced the soundtrack and conducted a 110-person choir for Warner Bros.' "The Power of One." It was on this project that Lebo met and first worked with Hans Zimmer and producer/engineer Jay Rifkin. "This was the first time I had worked on a project of this magnitude," Lebo explains with a twinkle of inspiration in his eye. "Working with Hans was amazing because I had always considered him to be the most celebrated composer in the world." And when the film was released, Lebo's luck had struck again, "The Power of One" became critically acclaimed -- for the music.
{{Reflist}}


== External links ==
In 1989, Lebo rekindled his relationship with Caiphus Semanya, whose "strict" work ethic was sometimes getting him out of bed at 4 a.m. so that he could observe mixing sessions in the studio. Semanya introduced Lebo to Quincy Jones and worked with him on his "Back on the Block" project. Like everyone he met, Jones took a liking to Lebo and used his work in the Warner Bros. movie "Listen Up."
* [http://www.lebomproductions.com/ Official site]
* [https://mg.co.za/article/2019-07-12-00-lebo-m-circles-his-lion-king-life Portrait of Lebo M.], Mail & Guardian Online 12 Jul 2019
* [http://disney.go.com/disneyrecords/Biographies/Lebo_Bio.html Biography] at [[Walt Disney Records]]
* {{IMDb name|530799}}
* {{IBDB name}}
* {{allMusic|artist|mn0000140012}}
* https://zalebs.com/whats-hot/lion-kings-lebo-m-gets-married-sixth-time


{{Authority control}}
As Lebo prepared to return to South Africa in 1990 to visit his family, he bumped into Mbongeni Ngemna, creator and director of the Broadway hit musical "Sarafina." "I was supposed to leave the next day, when Mbongeni asked me to join his cast. Although I really wanted to go home, I couldn't pass up the opportunity. As it turned out, I'm glad I stayed because I met my wife, Nandi, who was an actress in the cast." Lebo performed throughout the year in the U.S. and Canada and finally went home in 1991 to settle his family.


{{DEFAULTSORT:M, Lebo}}
Lebo was performing in South Africa when he received a call from Hans Zimmer, who had been searching throughout Africa for him.

"He told me Disney was doing a new feature film titled `The Lion King' and asked that I join him in Los Angeles immediately," Lebo says, his smile widening into a grin. "He apparently searched pretty hard for me in Africa."

In 1992, Lebo returned to Los Angeles where he and Hans worked together on the soundtrack for "The Lion King," their arrangement of which won the duo a Grammy. "Working on this project was the most gratifying part of my career so far," smiles Lebo. His credits include lead vocalist, choral arranger, conductor a co-writer -- it is his soaring voice that cuts through the stale movie house air as the film opens.

Lebo recently finished recording his debut album for Walt Disney Records titled "Rhythm of the Pride Lands." A collaboration with Hans Zimmer & Jay Rifkin, the record shipped Gold on February 28, 1995, was released in South Africa in March 1995. The album has sold over 800,000 copies in the United States and hit the top of the charts in Germany and France. "Rhythms" features Lebo's original work, some of it a follow-up from "The Lion King" soundtrack. The collection of exhilarating songs are backed by resonant African choirs and intoxicating rhythms. Lebo's work communicates clearly his African heritage while expressing, through melody and words, his intrinsic love of life. Other recent credits include the feature films "Outbreak" in which he provided African choral arrangements and Warner Bros' "Born To Be Wild" on which he performed and co-wrote a composition with Mark Snow and Paramount Pictures Congo, on which he worked with famed composer Jerry Goldsmith. Lebo recently returned from Switzerland where he performed in the Montreaux Jazz Festival.

When Lebo celebrated his 30th birthday last year, he was presented with a birthday cake for the first time in his life. He continues to dedicate much of his time to his very much missed confidante, Vernon, who died in a car accident in 1992. Lebo is the father of three children, all girls, Zakiya, 8 1/2; Nthabi, 7 1/2 and Refilwe, 9 months. He and Nandi retain residences in both Los Angeles and South Africa.

==Filmography==
Lebo M has composed, arranged, performed and produced music for the following films:
*''[[The Lion King]]'' ([[The Lion King (soundtrack)|soundtrack]])
*''[[The Lion King II: Simba's Pride]]''
*''[[The Lion King 1½]]''
*''[[The Lion King (musical)]]'' - singer at One by One
*''[[The Power of One]]''
*''[[Dinosaur (film)|Dinosaur]]''
*''[[Tears of the Sun]]''
*''[[Back on the Block]]''
*''[[The Color Purple]]''
*''Listen Up: The Life of [[Quincy Jones]]''
*''[[Outbreak (film)|Outbreak]]''
*''[[Made in America (film)|Made In America]]''
*''[[Congo (film)|Congo]]''
*''[[Born to Be Wild]]''
*''[[Long Night's Journey Into Day]]''

==External links==
*[http://lebom.com/index.html Official site]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morake, Lebo}}
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Musicians from Soweto]]
[[Category:South African composers]]
[[Category:South African composers]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:South African male composers]]
[[Category:20th-century South African male singers]]
[[pt:Lebo M]]
[[Category:21st-century South African male singers]]
{{composer-stub}}

Latest revision as of 05:26, 2 May 2024

Lebo M
Birth nameLebohang Morake
Born (1964-07-11) 11 July 1964 (age 59)
Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa
Occupation(s)Producer, composer, arranger, performer
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1994–present
LabelsTill Dawn Entertainment

Lebohang Morake (born 11 July 1964),[1] known as Lebo M, is a South African producer and composer, known for his songwriting and vocal work on the soundtracks to films such as The Lion King, The Power of One and Outbreak and numerous stage productions. He was recommended to Disney by Hans Zimmer, the composer of both adaptations of The Lion King, and formed and conducted the African choir that sang for the films.

Early life[edit]

Lebohang Morake was born on 11 July 1964 in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa. With no formal training in music,[2] he left school at the age of nine to perform music in night clubs.[3] Morake recorded his first single, "Celebration", when he was 13 years old, receiving only $20 for recording the record.[4] When he was 13 years old, Morake became the youngest performer to sing at the nightclub Club Pelican, when he filled in for a backup singer who could not attend.[3][5]

Career[edit]

Early career[edit]

In 1979, Morake sought to broaden his horizons, so he left by bus for Maseru, Lesotho after hearing that a new club was going to be opening there.[5] In Maseru, due to the apartheid system, he was under exile.[4][5] At 15, he was working as a singer in the Victoria Hotel in Lesotho when Lesotho's Ambassador to the United States Tim Thahane noticed him and appreciated his musical abilities.[4] Thahane helped Morake apply to the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, coordinating with the TransAfrica organization to send the singer to the United States.[3][6] Morake lived at first in New York, again playing in restaurants and bars, and was supported by Black churches to attend music school.[5] Morake moved to Los Angeles when he was 18 to pursue a music career.[6]

Start in Hollywood[edit]

In Los Angeles, he struggled to make ends meet, working odd jobs to survive while studying at Los Angeles City College.[2][5] He performed sometimes at Memory Lane, a nightclub owned by Marla Gibbs.[4] Morake was asked to help find a choir for the Oscars, so that they could perform music from 1987's Cry Freedom, a film about South Africa that was nominated for multiple Academy Awards, including one for Best Original Song.[3] He made further strides in his music career when by chance, he ran into childhood friend Solly Letwaba, who was the bassist for Johnny Clegg. Letwaba introduced Morake to Clegg's producer, Hilton Rosenthal, who employed Morake as an intern and gofer for his production studio.[5] Rosenthal was the music supervisor on the film The Power of One, and through him, Morake met the film's composer, Hans Zimmer.[2] After being asked about some ideas for the film's soundtrack, Morake ended up co-writing and co-producing the music for The Power of One with Zimmer, helping to arrange the choruses.[4] Morake used his knowledge of African rhythms to compose the soundtracks to other films, such as Congo (1995), Outbreak (1995), and Born to be Wild (1995).[5] He decided to return to South Africa in the early 1990s, after the end of apartheid.[2]

The Lion King[edit]

Morake wrote and sang the opening Zulu chant at the beginning of Disney's The Lion King,[7] for which he was sought by Zimmer.[6] He also contributed to the sequel to the film's soundtrack, Rhythm of the Pride Lands, and the film's direct-to-video sequel The Lion King II: Simba's Pride.

The duo composed so much music that Disney approved of an additional soundtrack album, Rhythm of the Pride Lands, containing extra compositions.[3] The Lion King's original soundtrack, with the compositions that had made the cut for the theatrical release, earned the two composers a Grammy Award, and Zimmer won an Academy Award for Best Original Score.[3] Morake also helped score The Lion King's stage musical, creating new music and adding pieces from Rhythm of the Pride Lands.[4] The musical was nominated for Best Original Score at the 52nd Tony Awards in 1998.[8]

He founded the Lebo M Foundation and Till Dawn Entertainment.

On 23 July 2019, Morake performed 'Circle of Life' and 'He Lives in You' at the opening ceremony of the 24th World Scout Jamboree.

Personal life[edit]

Morake was married to Viveca Gipson for 5 years. He divorced her and married Nandi Ndlovu and they were together for 11 years. He then divorced Ndlovu and married Angela Ngani-Casara for five years, from 2008 to 2013.[9][10] Morake became engaged to Zoe Mthiyane but their relationship ended in 2016. He remarried his third wife, Angela, but they divorced again in 2017.[11][12][13] He lives with his family in Johannesburg and Los Angeles.[11] His daughter Refi is also a singer who often performs by his side.[14] In April 2021,[citation needed] Morake got engaged to partner Pretty Samuels, in 2023 he had presumably filed for divorce.[15]

Filmography[edit]

Lebo Morake has composed, arranged, performed and produced music for the following films:

Discography[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Works written by: MORAKE LEBOHANG". ACE Title Search. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved 5 October 2008.
  2. ^ a b c d Pegg, Cameron (7 December 2018). "A strong voice, loud and proud". The Weekend Australian. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Barnett, Errol (16 January 2013). "Roaring success of 'Lion King' musician". CNN. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Smith, Shawnee (22 August 1998). "Lebo M Draws On Sounds Of Africa". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 32, 86. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Allison, Simon (12 July 2019). "Lebo M on the Lion King, and his own circle of life". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  6. ^ a b c "'Lion King' Stage Score A Departure For Broadway". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 14 February 1998. p. 67. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  7. ^ "Lebo M circles his Lion King life". The Mail & Guardian. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  8. ^ "List of 1998 Tony Award Winners". Playbill. 14 December 1998. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  9. ^ "'The M stands for marriage' – SA reacts to news Lebo M could wed for 5th time". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  10. ^ "Lebo M To Wed Again?". ZAlebs. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  11. ^ a b "LEBO M TO WALK DOWN THE ISLE AGAIN!". DailySun. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  12. ^ Carter, Logan (7 June 2020). "Lebo M Has Broken Up With His Fourth Girlfriend". South Africa's Rich and Famous. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  13. ^ "Lebo M reportedly set to wed AGAIN". All4Women. 14 October 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  14. ^ "Hollywood in Vienna".
  15. ^ Keteyi, Oluthando (2 August 2023). "Lebo M to divorce his wife Pretty Samuels-Morake after a year of wedded bliss". News 24. Archived from the original on 18 January 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2024.

External links[edit]

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