Umm Kulthum

[Thani]

Early life
Umm Kulthum was born in Tamay-az-Zahayra village, within under Al Senbellawein City, Ad Daqahliyah Governorate, Egypt. Following much research, the Egyptian Ministry of Information places her actual date of birth as December 31, 1904. At a young age, she showed exceptional singing talents. Her father, an Imam, taught her to recite the Qur'an, and she is said to have memorized the entire Qur'an. When she was 12 years old, her father disguised her as a young boy and entered her in a small performing troupe that he directed. At the age of 16 she was noticed by Abu El-Ala Mohamed, a modestly famous singer, and by the famous oudist Zakaria Ahmed who asked her to accompany them to Cairo. However, she waited until 1923 before accepting the invitation.

In Cairo, she carefully avoided succumbing to the attractions of the bohemian lifestyle, and indeed throughout her life stressed her pride in her humble origins and espousal of conservative values. She also maintained a tightly managed public image, which undoubtedly added to her allure.

At this point in her career, she was introduced to the famous poet Ahmad Rami, who wrote 137 songs for her. Rami also introduced her to French literature, which he greatly admired from his studies at the Sorbonne, Paris, and eventually became her head mentor in Arabic literature and literary analysis. Furthermore, she was introduced to the renowned lute virtuoso and composer Mohamed El Kasabji. El Kasabji introduced Umm Kulthum to the Arabian Theatre Palace, where she would experience her first real public success. In 1932, her fame increased to the point where she embarked upon a large tour of the Middle East, touring such cities as Damascus, Baghdad, Beirut, and Tripoli.

Legacy
Umm Kulthum has been a significant influence on a number of musicians, both in the Arab world and beyond. Among others, Jah Wobble has claimed her as a significant influence on his work. Bob Dylan[1][2], Maria Callas, Marie Lafouret, Nico, Bono and Led Zeppelin are also known to be admirers of Kulthum's music. One of her best known songs, Enta Omri, has been the basis of many reinterpretations, including one 2005 collaborative project involving Israeli and Egyptian artists.

She had been referred to as "The Lady" by Charles De Gaulle, and is regarded as "The Incomparable Voice" by Maria Callas, Umm Kulthum is remembered in the Arab world as one of the greatest singers and musicians who have ever lived. It is hard to accurately measure her vocal range at its peak, since most of her songs are recorded live, and she was aware not to strain her voice too much due to the extended rendition of her songs. It is known that she had the ability to sing as low as the second octave, as well as the ability to sing as high as between the seventh and the eighth octave at her vocal peak; yet she also could easily sing over a range surpassing two octaves near the end of her career. Her unparalleled vocal strength, and her mastery of singing the Arabic maqamat, arguably make her the most incomparable voice of all time. Even today, she has retained a near mythical status amongst young Arabs. Her records continue to sell around a million records a year.

Umm Kalthum
1904-1975

All from wikipedia... enjoy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umm_Kulthum_(singer)