Wadih el safi biography of michael

Lebanese vocalist Wadi El-Safi (also spelled Wadih Al-Safi) passed away in Beirut this past October, He was Just as Fairouz remains the female voice of Lebanon, El-Safi was the most famous singer of his generation in Lebanon and widely admired throughout the Arab world.

His powerful, passionate voice recalls that of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and other legendary singers whose music transcended language and cultural barriers.

Born Wadi Francis on the first of November to a poor family in the Mount Lebanon village of Niha in Al-Shuf district, his father, Beshara Gabriel Francis.

Born Wadi Francis on the first of November to a poor family in the Mount Lebanon village of Niha in Al-Shuf district, his father, Beshara Gabriel Francis.

Wadih El Safi learned songs originally from his grandfather, beginning at age 4 in his home village of Niha at the Chouf in Lebanon.

Wadih El Safi (Arabic: وديع الصافي, romanized: Wadīʿ aṣ-Ṣāfī, born Wadih Francis; November 1, – October 11, ) was a Lebanese singer and composer.

Wadih El Safi was a legendary Lebanese singer and composer who was active for over 75 years.

With a catalogue of some 3, songs, Mr Safi was best known for creating a modernised form of folk music, but he also sang Lebanese and Arabic.

Unfortunately, he was never well-known outside the Arab world.

When I was Managing Director of the ill-fated world music label, Horizon Records at A&M, I went to Paris in search of artists to bring to the label. I had heard El-Safi on CDs and was completely blown away.

This in spite of the fact that there were no lyrics or lyric translations, just the song titles in English and Arabic. No mind. His singing transcended language considerations.

In the Spring of , I met with two of his sons and we talked about the