Mounir Mourad
Encyclopedia
Mounir Mourad was an Egypt
ian artist, singer, actor and distinguished composer of lighthearted songs. His compositions included duets for Shadia
and Abdel Halim Hafez
.
He played the leading roles in a few Egyptian films
, the most famous being "Of the Good Day" (NAHARAK SA'ID).
His father Ibrahim Zaki Mordechai was a famous Jewish Egyptian singer, musician and composer in the early twentieth century. His mother was Jewish Egyptian of Polish origin, Gamilah Salmon. Mourad was born in Cairo
. When Mounir was growing up, his sister, the artist Leila Mourad
was already famous and singing on the Egypt
ian radio.
In 1939, Mourad left his French college (Collège-des-Frères (Bab-El-Louk)) took various jobs, then entered the field of cinema, firstly as a script supervisor
(Klaket), and then as an assistant director to Kamal Salim in about 24 films in the 1940s.
Mourad attempted to compose and present jazz music that was popular at that time in the West, but faced difficulties in promoting it and to convince anyone to produce it. His big breakthrough, however, came when he composed his first popular song "One Two" ("Wahed .. Etneen") sang by Shadia
which then opened the way for the singers and film-makers to entrust him to compose songs in many movies.
Mourad was a pioneer in dance music and musical shows. He composed and developed much of Egypt
's most famous dance music, performed by the leading dancers of the time, Tahiya Karioka
, Samia Gamal
, and Naima Akef
.
His association with singer Shadia
was a milestone in the history of Egyptian music as their songs have become classic songs of romance in Egypt
. In addition, songs for Abdel Halim Hafez
served as a special aspect of the Halim
experience.
Mounir Mourad composed music for several other singers from Egypt
and some Arab countries with the same method, which is characterised with successive rapid rhythm.
Mounir also acted in three movies, acting and singing mixing jazz with oriental music.
Mounir Mourad was married to actress Soheir el Bably.
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian artist, singer, actor and distinguished composer of lighthearted songs. His compositions included duets for Shadia
Shadia
Fatima Ahmad Kamal , better known by her stage name Shadia , is an Egyptian actress and singer. Now retired, she is famous for her roles in light comedies and drama in the 1950s and 1960s...
and Abdel Halim Hafez
Abdel Halim Hafez
Abdel Halim Ali Shabana commonly known as Abdel Halim Hafez , is among the most popular Egyptian and Arab singers and performers. In addition to singing, Halim was also an actor, conductor, business man, music teacher and movie producer...
.
He played the leading roles in a few Egyptian films
Cinema of Egypt
The cinema of Egypt refers to the flourishing Egyptian Arabic-language film industry based in Cairo, the capital of Egypt. Since 1976, Cairo has held the annual Cairo International Film Festival, which has been accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations. There is also...
, the most famous being "Of the Good Day" (NAHARAK SA'ID).
His father Ibrahim Zaki Mordechai was a famous Jewish Egyptian singer, musician and composer in the early twentieth century. His mother was Jewish Egyptian of Polish origin, Gamilah Salmon. Mourad was born in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
. When Mounir was growing up, his sister, the artist Leila Mourad
Leila Mourad
Leila Mourad was an Egyptian singer and actress. She is also credited as "Laila Mourad" and "Layla Mourad".- Life :Leila Mourad was born in Al Daher, Cairo on February 17, 1918 to an Egyptian of Iraqi Jewish descent father, Zaki Mourad, a respected singer and musician in the twenties, and to a...
was already famous and singing on the Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian radio.
In 1939, Mourad left his French college (Collège-des-Frères (Bab-El-Louk)) took various jobs, then entered the field of cinema, firstly as a script supervisor
Script supervisor
A script supervisor is a member of a film crew responsible for maintaining the motion picture's internal continuity and for recording the production unit's daily progress in shooting the film's screenplay...
(Klaket), and then as an assistant director to Kamal Salim in about 24 films in the 1940s.
Mourad attempted to compose and present jazz music that was popular at that time in the West, but faced difficulties in promoting it and to convince anyone to produce it. His big breakthrough, however, came when he composed his first popular song "One Two" ("Wahed .. Etneen") sang by Shadia
Shadia
Fatima Ahmad Kamal , better known by her stage name Shadia , is an Egyptian actress and singer. Now retired, she is famous for her roles in light comedies and drama in the 1950s and 1960s...
which then opened the way for the singers and film-makers to entrust him to compose songs in many movies.
Mourad was a pioneer in dance music and musical shows. He composed and developed much of Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
's most famous dance music, performed by the leading dancers of the time, Tahiya Karioka
Tahiya Karioka
Tahiya Karioka also Tahiya Mohamed , was an Egyptian belly dancer and film actress. Born in the Egyptian town of Ismaileya in 1920 to Mohamed Kareem, Tahiya was discouraged from performing as a dancer by her family...
, Samia Gamal
Samia Gamal
Samia Gamal was an Egyptian belly dancer and film actress.Born in the small Egyptian town of Wana in 1924, Samia's family moved just months later to Cairo and settled near the Khan El-Khalili bazaar. It was many years later that Samia Gamal met Badia Masabni, the founder of modern Oriental dance....
, and Naima Akef
Naima Akef
Naima Akef was a famous Egyptian belly dancer during the Egyptian cinema's golden age and starred in many films of the time. Naima Akef was born in Tanta on the Nile Delta. Her parents were acrobats in the Akef Circus , which was one of the best known circuses at the time...
.
His association with singer Shadia
Shadia
Fatima Ahmad Kamal , better known by her stage name Shadia , is an Egyptian actress and singer. Now retired, she is famous for her roles in light comedies and drama in the 1950s and 1960s...
was a milestone in the history of Egyptian music as their songs have become classic songs of romance in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. In addition, songs for Abdel Halim Hafez
Abdel Halim Hafez
Abdel Halim Ali Shabana commonly known as Abdel Halim Hafez , is among the most popular Egyptian and Arab singers and performers. In addition to singing, Halim was also an actor, conductor, business man, music teacher and movie producer...
served as a special aspect of the Halim
Abdel Halim Hafez
Abdel Halim Ali Shabana commonly known as Abdel Halim Hafez , is among the most popular Egyptian and Arab singers and performers. In addition to singing, Halim was also an actor, conductor, business man, music teacher and movie producer...
experience.
Mounir Mourad composed music for several other singers from Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and some Arab countries with the same method, which is characterised with successive rapid rhythm.
Mounir also acted in three movies, acting and singing mixing jazz with oriental music.
Mounir Mourad was married to actress Soheir el Bably.
Filmography
- NAHARAK SA'ID 1955
- ANA WA HABIBI 1953
External links
Sources
- http://www.citwf.com/person308481.htm Film Database
- Jews of Egypt