Lebo M

Lebohang Morake, known professionally as Lebo M, was born on 11 July 1964 in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa. A composer, producer, and vocalist, he received no formal music training, leaving school at the age of nine to perform in nightclubs. At thirteen he recorded his first single, "Celebration," earning $20 for the recording, and that same year became the youngest performer to sing at Club Pelican when he substituted for an absent backup singer.

In 1979, at fifteen, Morake traveled by bus to Maseru, Lesotho, where he found work as a singer at the Victoria Hotel. There, Lesotho's Ambassador to the United States, Tim Thahane, recognized his abilities and helped him apply to the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, working with the TransAfrica organization to facilitate his move to the United States. Morake initially settled in New York, performing in restaurants and bars and receiving support from Black churches to attend music school, before relocating to Los Angeles at eighteen to pursue his career further.

In Los Angeles, Morake studied at Los Angeles City College while working odd jobs and occasionally performing at Memory Lane, a nightclub owned by Marla Gibbs. He was asked to help assemble a choir to perform music from the 1987 film Cry Freedom at the Academy Awards. A chance encounter with childhood friend Solly Letwaba, bassist for Johnny Clegg, led to an introduction to Clegg's producer, Hilton Rosenthal, who hired Morake as an intern at his production studio. Rosenthal served as music supervisor on The Power of One, through which Morake met composer Hans Zimmer. Morake ultimately co-wrote and co-produced the music for that film alongside Zimmer, arranging its choruses. He subsequently applied his knowledge of African rhythms to the soundtracks of Congo, Outbreak, and Born to Be Wild, all released in 1995.

Zimmer later recommended Morake to Disney for The Lion King. Morake wrote and performed the opening Zulu chant for the film and formed and conducted the African choir that sang throughout it. The two also composed additional material that Disney approved as a separate album, Rhythm of the Pride Lands. The Lion King's original theatrical soundtrack earned the composers a Grammy Award, while Zimmer received the Academy Award for Best Original Score. Morake contributed further to the franchise through the direct-to-video sequel The Lion King II: Simba's Pride and the Rhythm of the Pride Lands album. He also helped score The Lion King stage musical, creating new music and incorporating pieces from Rhythm of the Pride Lands. That production earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Original Musical Score at the 52nd Tony Awards in 1998. His Broadway work spans 1990 to 1997 and includes both The Lion King and Sarafina!

On 23 July 2019, Morake performed "Circle of Life" and "He Lives in You" at the opening ceremony of the 24th World Scout Jamboree. In April 2024, it was announced that he would contribute additional music to Mufasa: The Lion King alongside the film's songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda. Morake founded both the Lebo M Foundation and Till Dawn Entertainment. His daughter Refi is also a singer who has performed alongside him. He divides his time between Johannesburg and Los Angeles.