(1901-1992)
Mohammad Abdul Wahab, better known as the ‘Singer of all Generations,’ was born within a very religious family in the Bab El Sheri’a area. Initially Wahab’s talent was only revealed during Quran readings.
His first step into commercial music was at weddings, where the singer would cover songs from great singers of the time, such as Al Sheikh Salama Hijazi and Abdo El Hamouli.
Wahab’s relationship with the so-called ‘Prince of Poets,’ Ahmad Shawqi was what led the singer to his success and fame. He first started composing music for various singers including Munira Al Mahdi.
Wahab was very famous for his jealousy of the great Um Kulthum, with whom he collaborated with on Inta Omri (You Are My Life) in 1963.
As for his experience in the Silver Screen, Abdul Wahab, participated in various movies including Al Warda Al Baida’a (The White Rose), Naharak Sa’id (Good Morning) and Laily Tal (My Night is Longer).
Wahab also made an appearance in the famous movie Ghazl El Banat (Cotton Candy).
This singer is considered the first Arab ever to integrate the acoustic guitar into Arabic music in his song Inta Omri.
Hi innovative style of music earned him the nicknames Singer of all Generations and The Eternal River.
Wahab is responsible for the fame of various stars including Mohmammad Tharwat, Sonya Atieh and Hani Shaker, the last singer Wahab worked with.
With Shaker, the singer performed the Abdul Halim Hafez song Min Gher Leih> (Without Why), the song that Hafez never got to perform himself due to an untimely death.
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
