Alemayehu was born in June 1941 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where his father worked as a taxi driver. Recognized for his exceptional talent by Colonel Retta Demeqe, the young singer was invited to perform with Addis Ababa's renowned Police Orchestra.
In 1961, Alemayehu had his first hit single, "Seul", before co-founding the Alem-Girma Band with Girma Beyene. Over the next 15 years, he released approximately 30 singles.
However, with the rise of the communist junta Derg, Alemayehu continued to work as a musician, even being ordered to perform in Korean for Kim Il-sung.
Alemayehu gained widespread recognition in Europe and the Americas with the release of Buda Musique's Ethiopiques series of compilations on compact disc. Specifically, Ethiopiques Volume 9 is dedicated entirely to his earlier recordings, while Volume 22 covers his career between 1972 and 1974. His songs have also appeared on Volumes 3, 8, 10, and 13 of the series.
In 2008, Alemayehu embarked on a tour of the United States, accompanied by fellow Ethiopian singer Mahmoud Ahmed, backed by Boston's 10-piece Either/Orchestra.
