George Wassouf (Arabic: جورج وسوف; 23 December 1961) is a Syrian singer.[1][2][3] In a career spanning more than four decades, he has released more than 30 albums, with a significantly large audience of fans throughout the Arab world. Dubbed Sultan El-Tarab (Arabic: سلطان الطرب), he is one of the most successful Arab singers selling over 60 million records worldwide.[4]
George Wassouf | |
|---|---|
| جورج وسوف | |
 Wassouf in 2009 | |
| Born | 23 December 1961 Kafroun, Syria |
| Occupations |
|
| Spouses | Shalimar Wassouf
(m. 1982; div. 2009)Nada Zeidan
(m. 2014; div. 2016) |
| Children | 4 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Arabic Music, Syrian Music, Lebanese Music, Khaliji Music Music of Egypt |
| Years active | 1971–present |
| Labels |
|
| Website | wassoufworld |
Early life and career
editWassouf was born in Kafroun, Syria to a Greek Orthodox Christian family.[5] Wassouf started singing at the age of 10 in his hometown Kafroun. He was discovered by his first manager and producer George Yazbeck at a wedding party that Wassouf was performing at, aged 12 years old. At the age of 16, he was called Sultan El-Tarab (The Sultan of Music) by the Lebanese journalist George Ibrahim El Khoury, a magazine director, with his classic song "el-Hawa Sultan".[6] At age 19, he appeared on the 1980 Lebanese show Studio El Fan as Sultan of Tarab.[6] Wassouf also holds Lebanese citizenship.
Wassouf preferred not to shoot music videos for his songs saying: "I don't feel I can act... I really can't... I only find myself when I'm on the stage... singing, but the video clip forces me to act".[6]
Personal life
editGeorge Wassouf married his first wife, Shalimar, at the age of 21. They have three children: Wadih, Hatem and George Jr. The couple separated after 28 years of marriage in 2009.[7] On January 6, 2023, their eldest son Wadih died due to complications from a gastric bypass surgery.[8]
In 2014, he married Qatar rally champion Nada Zeidan, his second wife. They divorced in 2016.[9] Their daughter, Oyoon, was born in October 2015.[10]
Wassouf has been a prominent supporter of President Bashar al-Assad's government throughout the Syrian Civil War.[11]
In 2008, he was arrested in Sweden for possession of cocaine.[12]
Discography
edit- 1983: Ouwidni Salmtek Byied Allah
- 1984: El Hawa Sultan
- 1992: Rouh El Rouh
- 1993: She' Ghareeb
- 1995: Kalam El Nass
- 1996: Leil Al Ashiqeen
- 1998: Lissa El Dounya Bi Khair
- 1999: Tabeeb Garrah
- 2000: Dol Mush Habayib
- 2001: Zaman El Ajayib
- 2002: Inta Gherhom
- 2003: Salaf Wi Deine
- 2004: Etakhart Kteer
- 2006: Heya El Ayam
- 2008: Kalamak Ya Habibi
- 2009: Allah Kareem, Shoukran
- 2012: Best of Wassouf
- 2015: Shtaanelak
Live Albums
edit- Sings Oum Kolthoum Vol. 1, 1983.
- Sings Oum Kolthoum Vol. 2, 1995.
- Sings Oum Kolthoum Vol. 3, 1997.
- Sings Abdel Halim Hafez, 1998.
- Sings Warda, 1999
Singles
edit- "Ahla Ayam El Omr", 1995.
- "Amri Lellah", 1995.
- "Mahlak Tmahal Ya Malak", 1995.
- "Rahal El Batal", 2000.
- "Ferhat Rejouak Ya Loubnan", 2010.
- "Dawarat El Ayam", 2010.
- "Aady Ya Donia", 2011.
- "Biyehsedouni", 2011.
- "Seket El Kalam", 2013 [13]
- "Bisaalouni Aleik", 2013.
- "Ya Oumi", 2013.
- "Zekrayat", 2013.
- "Shouq El Omr", 2013.
- "Tarakni Ghab", 2014.
- "Bandahlak", 2017.
- "Malikat Gamal El Rouh", 2018 [14]
- "Hal El Garih", 2019.
- "Sahi El Leil", 2020.
- "Byetkallem Aalaya", 2022.
- "Noss Omry", 2023.
Clips
edit- Yalli Taebna Senin Fi Hawah, 1986.
- Ya Moualdani, 1986.
- Kalam El Nass, 1994.
- Erda Bel Nassib, 1996.
- Lissa El Donya Bkheir, 1998.
- Tabib Garah, 1999.
- Ana Assef, 1999.
- Dul Mush Habayeb, 2000.
- Ma Teoulou Leih, 2000.
- Zaman El Agayeb, 2001.
- Youm El Wadaa, 2001.
- Salaf We Dayn, 2003.
- Etakhart Ktir, 2004.
- Sehert El Leyl, 2004.
- Leilat Wadaana, 2006.
- Asaab Fourak, 2008.
- Aallem Albi El Shouk, 2008.
- Ferhat Rejouak Ya Loubnan, 2010.
- Dawarat El Ayam, 2010.
- Biyehsedouni, 2011.
- Malikat Gamal El Rouh, 2018.
- Hal El Garih, 2019.
- Sahi El Leil, 2020.
References
edit- ^ "George Wassouf celebrates his 57th birthday on Dec. 23". egypttoday.com. Mustafa Marie. 23 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
- ^ Skinner, Patricia (October 2004). Syria. Gareth Stevens. pp. 33–. ISBN 978-0-8368-3118-4. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
- ^ "Dh4.2m suit against syrian singer George Wassouf thrown out". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ Behnke, Alison (January 2005). Syria in Pictures. Twenty-First Century Books. p. 71. ISBN 9780822523963.
- ^ "At the initiative of the national office for culture and information: George Wassouf in concerts in Sétif and Algiers". djazairess.com. Samira Sidhoum. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
- ^ a b c "George Wassouf Biography". fleurdamour.blogit.fr.
- ^ "George Wassouf and rally champion Nada Zeidan's marriage reaches the finish line!". Al Bawaba. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
- ^ Gillett, Katy (7 June 2023). "Arab stars offer George Wassouf support after son Wadih's death". The National News.
- ^ "George Wassouf secretly divorces rally champion wife!". www.albawaba.com.
- ^ "It's a girl! George Wassouf and Nada Zeidan welcome their firstborn into the world". Al Bawaba. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
- ^ Naharnet Newsdesk (19 June 2014). "Maher Assad Appears for First Time in Four Years". Naharnet. Naharnet. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
- ^ "Arab singer held on drugs charges". BBC News. 2 November 2008.
- ^ "Georges Wassouf to release 'Seket el Kalam' soon". egypttoday. 23 April 2019.
- ^ "Georges Wassouf: This job, I do it for you ..." lorientlejour.com. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
