The Hello February Festival organizers Mohammad Al Masri and Mahmoud Al Doughari have signed a contract with Saudi singer Mohammad Abdo worth 130 thousand US dollars to hold the closing concert for the festival on February 27, 2003. The amount also includes the wages for the orchestra that will be accompanying the singer.
According to the UAE based daily, Al Bayan, the organizers also made agreements with Saudi singer Abdullah Ruaished worth 100 thousand US dollars to hold a performance. Ruaished will be paid this amount due to the fact that a large orchestra will be accompanying him. UAE singer Ahlam will receive 40 US dollars for her performance alone without the cost of her band. Other singers will be receiving wages ranging between 20 and 30 thousand US dollars for each performance.
On a different note, Mohammed Abdo surprised everyone last year when he announced his separation from his wife, Umm Noura, after a 20-year marriage.
Several Saudi daily newspapers reported that the singer separated from his wife after unbearable fights the two were having over the past several years. After friends and relatives failed to reconcile the two, Abdo divorced his wife and married a young girl, whose name has not been revealed. Mohammad Abdo is considered to be one of the Arab world's top singers. -Albawaba.com
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
