Sabah Fakhri

Sabah Fakhri was a Syrian tenor singer from Aleppo, who modified and popularized the then-fading forms of traditional Arabic music Muwashahat and Qudud Halabiya. He was well known for his beautiful strong vocals, impeccable control and execution of Maqamat and harmony, as well as his dominant and charismatic performances on stage. In the Arab world, he was regarded as one of the greatest artists of all time. He never studied or worked in Cairo, insisting that his fame was linked to the artistic heritage of his homeland, Syria. He was one of the very few singers from Arabic-speaking countries to have reached widespread popularity by singing in the Arabic language (including Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Australia). His name was enshrined in the Guinness Book of Records for his prowess in Caracas, Venezuela, where he sang continuously for 10 hours without pause. He also became a member of the Syrian parliament for the session, as a representative of artists. He sang many traditional songs from Aleppo, based on the poems of Abu Firas al-Hamdani, Al-Mutanabbi and other poets. He also worked with contemporary composers. Some of his most popular songs are: Yā Hādī al-‘Ess - Mālek Yā Ḥelwa (t) Mālek, Khamrat el-Ḥobb, Yā Ṭīra (t) Ṭīrī, Fōg el-Nakhal, ’Adduka al-Mayāss, and Yā Māl el-Shām. He died on November 2, 2021, in Damascus, aged 88.