George Wassouf

George Wassouf (Template:Langx; born 23 December 1961) is a Syrian singer.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Skinner2004">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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 (Template:Langx), he is one of the most successful Arab singers selling over 60 million records worldwide.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Early life and career

Wassouf was born in Kafroun, Syria to a Greek Orthodox Christian family.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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".<ref name="fr" /> At age 19, he appeared on the 1980 Lebanese show Studio El Fan as Sultan of Tarab.<ref name="fr" /> 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".<ref name="fr">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Personal life

George 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On January 6, 2023, their eldest son Wadih died due to complications from a gastric bypass surgery.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2014, he married Qatar rally champion Nada Zeidan, his second wife. They divorced in 2016.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Their daughter, Oyoon, was born in October 2015.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Wassouf was a prominent supporter of President Bashar al-Assad's government throughout the Syrian Civil War.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2008, he was arrested in Sweden for possession of cocaine.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Discography

• 1983: Ouwidni Salmtek Byied Allah
• 1984: El Hawa Sultan
• 1992: Rouh El Rouh
• 1993: She' Ghareeb
• 1995: Kalam El Nass
• 1997: 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

• 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

• "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 <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• "Bisaalouni Aleik", 2013.
• "Ya Oumi", 2013.
• "Zekrayat", 2013.
• "Shouq El Omr", 2013.
• "Tarakni Ghab", 2014.
• "Bandahlak", 2017.
• "Malikat Gamal El Rouh", 2018 <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• "Hal El Garih", 2019.
• "Sahi El Leil", 2020.
• "Byetkallem Aalaya", 2022.
• "Noss Omry", 2023.

Clips

• 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.

External links

• Template:Official website