Lebo M.

Lebohang Morake

Lebo M. is known as the “voice and spirit of The Lion King”. Once a teenage singer in Soweto, the GRAMMY® Award winner and Tony® nominee’s music brings audiences to tears with hauntingly inspiring African rhythms and melodies. Lebo’s talents have been hailed by the worldwide press in superlatives that might describe the most delightfully poetic of musical deities. Since his arrival in America, Lebo has attracted music industry giants such as Quincy Jones, Jimmy Cliff and Hans Zimmer as mentors, allies and collaborators. Lebo has performed and produced the album, Rhythm of the Pride Lands. Other credits include Dinosaur (2000 film) and One by One (2004 short film). He has performed on the Academy Awards® and the Essence Awards Show, with Vanessa Redgrave at Kthimi-The Return in Kosovo, and been honored by Artists for a Free South Africa.

Date of Birth: July 11, 1964 (61 years old)

Birthplace: Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa

Occupation

• African vocals performer
• Songwriter
• Song producer/arranger

Instrument: Vocals

Motion Pictures (My List)

Music Department

1994: The Lion King — African Vocal Solos and Improvisations, Choral Arrangement and Conducting

1998: The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride (video)

1998: Mighty Joe Young

1999: Tarzan — Vocal Contractor (uncredited)

2000: Dinosaur — Choir Conductor and Additional Vocal Arrangements

2004: The Lion King 1½ (video)

2004: One by One (short) — Music Arranger/Producer and Lead Vocal Performance

2005: Tarzan II (video) — African Chorus Arranger/Producer and Vocal Contractor, Johannesburg

2019: The Lion King — African Vocal and Choir Arrangements Creator and Producer, African Music Consultant

2024: Mufasa: The Lion King — Choral Conductor

Composer

2004: One by One (short)

Theatre

Broadway

1997–present: The Lion King — Additional Music & Lyrics, Additional Vocal Score, Vocal Arrangements and Choral Director

Collaborators

• Marlon E. Espino
• Bruce L. Fowler
• Nick Glennie-Smith
• Don L. Harper
• Elton John
• Mark Mancina
• Dave Metzger
• Tim Rice
• Jay Rifkin
• Julie Taymor
• John Van Tongeren
• Hans Zimmer

Awards

1995: Grammy Award — Winner for Best Instrumental Arrangement with Accompanying Vocals (Circle of Life)

1998: Tony Award — Nominated for Best Original Score (The Lion King)

2005: Annie Award — Nominated for Outstanding Music in an Animated Feature Production (The Lion King 1½)