Mulatu Astatke is an Ethiopian musician, composer, and arranger, renowned as the father of Ethio-jazz, a genre that fuses traditional Ethiopian music with jazz and other global styles. Born on July 19, 1943, in Jimma, Ethiopia, Astatke studied music in the United States, where he blended Western jazz elements with Ethiopian sounds. His work gained international recognition, especially with the release of albums like "Mulatu of Ethiopia" in the 1970s. His unique compositions, often featuring instruments like the vibraphone and traditional Ethiopian horns, have influenced numerous musicians and have been featured in various films and documentaries, contributing significantly to global appreciation of Ethiopian musical traditions.