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Lebo M.
From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist
Lebo M. · Lebohang Morake, known as Lebo M, is a South African producer and composer. He was born in Soweto in 1964, received no musical training and left school at the age of nine to sing in nightclubs. He recorded his first single, Celebration, at thirteen, for twenty dollars. At fifteen he worked in Maseru in Lesotho, where he lived in exile because of apartheid. The ambassador of Lesotho to the United States helped him to an art academy in America. At eighteen he moved to Los Angeles, did all sorts of odd jobs and studied at Los Angeles City College.
Music and breakthrough
The breakthrough came through Johnny Clegg's producer, Hilton Rosenthal, who put him in touch with the composer Hans Zimmer. Together they wrote the music for The Power of One. Morake also used his knowledge of African rhythms for films such as Congo and Outbreak. Zimmer recommended him to Disney for The Lion King. He formed and conducted the African choir that sings in the film, and co-wrote and sang on the soundtrack and in the stage version. Later came records such as Rhythm of the Pride Lands from 1995 and the music for Mufasa: The Lion King from 2024.
Influence
His music brings South African choral singing and rhythms into Hollywood film music. The opening cry of The Lion King, sung in Zulu, made an African voice a globally recognisable sound in popular culture.
Listening
Discography
Studio albums
- 1995Rhythm of the Pride Lands (soundtrack)
- 2024Mufasa : Le Roi Lion (soundtrack)
- 2024Mufasa: El Rey León (Banda Sonora Original) (soundtrack)
- 2024Mufasa: The Lion King (Japanese Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (soundtrack)
- 2024Mufasa: The Lion King (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (soundtrack)
- 2024Mufasa: The Lion King (Originele Nederlandstalige Soundtrack) (soundtrack)
In School of Rock
The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.
- The Dream Factory: Film Reel 7NL Reader
Mentioned in other articles
- Disney Renaissance Genre
For The Lion King (1994) Elton John and Rice wrote the songs and Hans Zimmer made the score, with South African choral singing by Lebo M.