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Born in
Alexandria,
Egypt; attended full
French immersion schools “Lycée
La Liberté and
Collège Saint Marc”;
received a Bachelor degree in Oral Surgery, specializing in “Conservative
Dentistry & Crown and Bridge”, from
Alexandria University (1977).
The affinity for music started at the early age of 7, when he carried his
first guitar. He became the guitar player of Alexandria Radio band at
the age of 15. He formed his own professional band at the age of 19. He was
one of the first to use western style musicals inlaid with Arabic ones.
He became famous after he was discovered by
Kamal EL Mallakh, a
highly-regarded journalist and an
Egyptologist,
who gave him his first real chance in the opening and closing ceremonies of
the Alexandria International Film Festival in 1979.
For years he participated in Alexandria and Cairo International Film
Festivals, the National celebrations and in many TV and radio shows.
He had the
chance to meet with high profile Egyptian composers, singers and musicians
such as,
Mohammed Abdel Wahab
and Baligh Hamdi,
Abdel Halim Hafez who
encouraged and guided him.
He was the first Egyptian artist to perform Arabic music in a special concert
at the famous Alexandria Library in front of the Egyptian First Lady,
Gihan El Sadat
and elite of highly ranked ambassadors and politicians from all around the
world.
After many years of travel, he
came to
Canada where he became a
Canadian citizen and started a new Chapter
of his life. He wrote an Arabic version of the
Canadian National Anthem (O Canada) as a
love song to his new country. |
