VOA标准英语2013--Ethiopian Taxi Driver, Keyboardist Reinvents Music Career

 

Ethiopian Taxi Driver, Keyboardist Reinvents Music Career 

WASHINGTON — 

One of the most popular keyboardists in Ethiopia is now working as a taxi driver in Washington, D.C. In the 1970s, Hailu Mergia performed with a famous band in Ethiopia. In 1981, he toured the United States with that band and then settled in Washington. But he kept his name and music alive in Ethiopian communities worldwide by producing his own recordings¹. Now one of those cassettes, from nearly 30 years ago, has been reissued after it was discovered in a music store in Ethiopia. 

Mergia plays music from his 1985 reissued cassette, titled Mergia and his Classical Instrument, as he waits for customers at Dulles International Airport, located outside Washington. He said his Ethiopian customers get excited when they realize who he is.

“When I tell them my name, then they recognize my name, and then they say 'Are you Hailu Mergia, then they tell me how they appreciate my music," he said, beaming with pride. "Most of them ask me ‘Why do you drive a taxi,’ so I tell them the same answer, ‘Look, I just have to make money.’”

Mergia is mostly self-taught. In his younger days, he played in restaurants and bars in Ethiopia and found fame in the 1970s playing with the jazz and soul Walias Band. 

“We were playing very modern music, so we were very popular at that time,” he explained.

For about 20 years in Washington, Mergia made money playing with another band and managing a nightclub. When those jobs ended, he became a taxi driver.  But he never let go of his music and has produced a dozen cassettes and a CD over his professional career. 

“I just like to play original music. I just play typical Ethiopian music,” he said.

Typical perhaps, but also unique.  Mergia added new sounds to his 1985 cassette like the Moog synthesizer and drum machine which he mixes with traditional acoustic² Ethiopian music. He also added the accordion³ which had not been heard in Ethiopian music for years.

Mergia’s style appealed to Brian Shimkovitz, founder⁴ of a small record label called Awesome⁵ Tapes from Africa.  While visiting a music store in Ethiopia, he thought this particular cassette stood out and wanted to reissue it.  

Mergia was surprised when he got the call.

“My question was, ‘How did you get it? Where did you get it?’ I was excited,” he admitted.

Shimkovitz thought Mergia’s sound would have wide appeal.

“There’s also tons of Ethiopians all over the world who would remember this music and would love to hear it again," he remarked. "I think the music touches on jazz and rock and experimental music but, of course, also classic Ethiopian music.” 

Mergia thinks the younger generation would also enjoy it.  

“I chose the melody⁶ that can fit for accordion. They like it because they don’t have that kind of sound,” he explained.

Today, Mergia is likely to collect even more fans since Shimkovitz has released his music in different formats⁷ that make it available to access on the Internet.

“It’s being marketed in every continent and in record stores of all different kinds,” he said.

At age 67, Mergia is hoping to reinvent his career. He is traveling to Europe in November where he will tour with other musicians to showcase his distinctive⁸ style.

 

1 recordings   

n.记录( recording的名词复数 )；录音；录像；唱片

参考例句：

• a boxed set of original recordings 一套盒装原声录音带
• old jazz recordings reissued on CD 以激光唱片重新发行的老爵士乐

2 acoustic   

adj.听觉的，声音的；(乐器)原声的

参考例句：

• The hall has a fine acoustic.这个大厅的传音效果很好。
• Animals use a whole rang of acoustic, visual,and chemical signals in their systems of communication.动物利用各种各样的听觉、视觉和化学信号来进行交流。

3 accordion   

n.手风琴；adj.可折叠的

参考例句：

• The accordion music in the film isn't very beautiful.这部影片中的手风琴音乐不是很好。
• The accordion music reminds me of my boyhood.这手风琴的乐声让我回忆起了我的少年时代。

4 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

5 awesome   

adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的

参考例句：

• The church in Ireland has always exercised an awesome power.爱尔兰的教堂一直掌握着令人敬畏的权力。
• That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了.

6 melody   

n.旋律，曲调，悦耳的音乐

参考例句：

• She struck up a folk melody on the piano.她开始用钢琴演奏那首民歌。
• After she wrote the melody,she asked us for criticisms.她做好曲之后，请我们提意见。

7 formats   

n.（出版物的）版式( format的名词复数 )；[电视]电视节目的总安排（或计划）

参考例句：

• They are producing books in all kinds of different formats. 他们出版各种不同开本的书籍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A true GUI includes standard formats for representing text and graphics. 真正的图形用户界面包括表示文字和图形的标准格式。 来自互联网

8 distinctive   

adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的

参考例句：

• She has a very distinctive way of walking.她走路的样子与别人很不相同。
• This bird has several distinctive features.这个鸟具有几种突出的特征。