Farid al-Atrash

Farid Al-Atrash
فريد الأطرش
Background information
Birth nameFarid Fahd Farhan Ismail Al-Atrash
BornOctober 19, 1910
Ottoman Syria, Ottoman Empire
OriginAs-Suwayda, Syria
DiedDecember 26, 1974(1974-12-26) (aged 64)
Beirut, Lebanon
GenresArabic, Egyptian classical, instrumental
Occupation(s)Singer, actor, composer, instrumentalist
Instrument(s)Vocals, oud
Years active1930s–1974

Farid al-Atrash (Arabic: فريد الأطرش; October 19, 1910 – December 26, 1974), also spelled Farid El-Atrache, was a Syrian-Egyptian singer, oudist, composer, and actor. Although born in Syria, he immigrated to Egypt at the age of nine with his mother and siblings, where he eventually became one of the most noted figures in 20th-century Arabic music.

Al-Atrash embarked on a highly successful career spanning more than four decades, recording 500 songs and starring in 31 movies. He is also widely regarded for his virtuosity on the Arabic oud, and has sometimes been given the epithet "King of the Oud" ("Malek al-Oud").