Abdel Halim Hafez

Al-Helwat, Al-Sharkia, Egypt

Born Abdel Halim Shabaana (عبد الحليم شبانة) in al-Halawaat, Sharkeyya (Delta of Egypt), graduated from the Higher institute of Arabic Music - Composing Department in 1948. For four years, he taught music for school children in Tanta, Zagazeeg and finally Cairo. In 1959, he resigned and joined the Cairo Radio Orchestra as an oboe player. His first radio broadcast song was “Lekaa". His first appearance on the silver screen was in “Lahn Al-Wafaa”. Abdul Haleem joined “Sawt al-Fann” production company, with the world famous composer Abdul Wahhaab and director of photography Waheed Fareed, which produced a great number of films and audio works. His acting was characterized with simplicity and spontaneity. Haleem did not only sing in Egypt, but also in all of the Arab countries and some European countries. Almost all of the composers of the Arab world composed the music of his songs. His patriotic songs outnumbered 300 songs and poems. All the Arab audiences still remember some of his famous scenes on the silver screen. Abdel Halim never married, yet rumors say that he was married to superstar Soaad Hosny.