Ragheb Alama
Encyclopedia
Ragheb Subhi Alama is a Lebanese
singer, composer, television personality, and philanthropist. Alama began his career in the 1980s when he appeared as a contestant on the talent show broadcast Studio El Fan
, on which he received the Platinum Award.
Alama's fame came after Studio El Fan with the release of his debut single "Bukra Byebrom Dulabak" (Your Luck Will Change Tomorrow) followed by yearly albums and number-one hit singles such as "Ya Rait" (I Wish), "'Aan Jad" (Seriously) and "Alby Asheq'ha" (My Heart Adores Her) which was the first Arabic song in history to be made into a music video. Alama continued his success into the 2000s with the release of his chart-topping albums Saharony El Leil (2001), Tab Leh (2003), El Hob El Kebeer (2004) and Baa'sha'ak (2008), the latter which earned the artist the Platinum certification
from Virgin Megastores for its record sales. His most recent album Seneen Rayha (2010) saw the artist team with Starbucks
for its release and sale, making him the first Arab artist to have his album sold at Starbucks. The Starbucks album Starz Vol. 1 also included a song featuring international pop artist Shakira
. He adopted an environmental cause with the album after being named the United Nations
Ambassador of Climate Change.
Alama has won two Murex d'Or
Awards and several other awards during his career. His albums have made him one of the most commercially successful singers in the Arab world. In mid-2011, it was announced that Alama would head the judging panel for the pan-Arab version of the American Idol series.
, Lebanon
, the son of Wafeeqa and Subhi Alama. He has three sisters and four brothers - of which he is the youngest. His father named him after the first Lebanese judge, "Ragheb Beik Alama". At eight years old, Ragheb took up playing the Oud and participated in a live radio program to showcase his talent. In 1996, Ragheb married Jihan al-Ali who gave birth to his two sons, Khaled (Born 1997) and Louai (Born 2001).
At the end of 2004, he released El Hob el Kebeer (The Great Love) which included the hit single "Naseeni el Dunya" (Make Me Forget the World) and the title track which was released in July 2005 and directed by Wissam Smayra in a huge production shot in Malaysia.
In 2006, Alama particpated in the pro-celebrity Formula One race, held in Bahrain, as an introductory show to the competition. He placed third and signed an agreement with Formula One Management to participate in the next race that will be held in Shanghai, China.
In 2010, and again under his own production company Backstage Production, Ragheb released the environment-themed album Seneen Rayha which included the number one singles "Seneen Rayha" and "Betfell". The album solidified Alama's position as the number one artist in the Arab world and was sold in all branches of Starbucks Coffee along with a B-side compilation album titled "Starz Vol. 1" that included the hit collaboration with Shakira "Good Stuff (Remix)".
, Starbucks
, Mercedes-Benz
, Samsung
, Malaysian Ministry of Tourism, Malaysia Airlines
, Middle East Airlines
, Persol
, The Pearl-Qatar.
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
singer, composer, television personality, and philanthropist. Alama began his career in the 1980s when he appeared as a contestant on the talent show broadcast Studio El Fan
Studio el fan
Studio El Fan was a Lebanese talent show broadcast on Télé Liban during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s in Lebanon and throughout the Arab world. Like the Olympics, the show ran every four years for an entire calendar year. Contestants from all over Lebanon competed. The best contestants in the...
, on which he received the Platinum Award.
Alama's fame came after Studio El Fan with the release of his debut single "Bukra Byebrom Dulabak" (Your Luck Will Change Tomorrow) followed by yearly albums and number-one hit singles such as "Ya Rait" (I Wish), "'Aan Jad" (Seriously) and "Alby Asheq'ha" (My Heart Adores Her) which was the first Arabic song in history to be made into a music video. Alama continued his success into the 2000s with the release of his chart-topping albums Saharony El Leil (2001), Tab Leh (2003), El Hob El Kebeer (2004) and Baa'sha'ak (2008), the latter which earned the artist the Platinum certification
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
from Virgin Megastores for its record sales. His most recent album Seneen Rayha (2010) saw the artist team with Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
for its release and sale, making him the first Arab artist to have his album sold at Starbucks. The Starbucks album Starz Vol. 1 also included a song featuring international pop artist Shakira
Shakira
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
. He adopted an environmental cause with the album after being named the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Ambassador of Climate Change.
Alama has won two Murex d'Or
Murex d'or
The Murex d'Or is a Lebanese award created by Lebanese physicians, Zahi and Fadi Helou to recognize achievements in the domain of art in Lebanon, the Arab region and the world. The first Murex d'Or ceremony took place on June 4, 2000...
Awards and several other awards during his career. His albums have made him one of the most commercially successful singers in the Arab world. In mid-2011, it was announced that Alama would head the judging panel for the pan-Arab version of the American Idol series.
Early Life
Alama was born in Ghoubeiry in BeirutBeirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, the son of Wafeeqa and Subhi Alama. He has three sisters and four brothers - of which he is the youngest. His father named him after the first Lebanese judge, "Ragheb Beik Alama". At eight years old, Ragheb took up playing the Oud and participated in a live radio program to showcase his talent. In 1996, Ragheb married Jihan al-Ali who gave birth to his two sons, Khaled (Born 1997) and Louai (Born 2001).
2000-2006: Tab Leh? and Hob El Kebeer
In 2000, Alama recorded "Betgheeb Betrouh" with then-rising singer Elissa. In 2003, he released Tab Leh? (Oh Why?) under the recording label Alam El Phan and the title track entered the number one spot for several weeks. He also featured famous Iranian-Armenian singer-songwriter Andy Madadian on a track titled "Yalla Ya Chabab" (Let's Go Guys).At the end of 2004, he released El Hob el Kebeer (The Great Love) which included the hit single "Naseeni el Dunya" (Make Me Forget the World) and the title track which was released in July 2005 and directed by Wissam Smayra in a huge production shot in Malaysia.
In 2006, Alama particpated in the pro-celebrity Formula One race, held in Bahrain, as an introductory show to the competition. He placed third and signed an agreement with Formula One Management to participate in the next race that will be held in Shanghai, China.
2008-Present: Backstage Production
In May 2008, Ragheb Alama released Baa'sha'ak, which was certified Platinum by Virgin Megastores Dubai by April 2009 for its record sales. The album was produced by his own company Backstage Production and included the hits "Yighib" and "Ser Hobbi"In 2010, and again under his own production company Backstage Production, Ragheb released the environment-themed album Seneen Rayha which included the number one singles "Seneen Rayha" and "Betfell". The album solidified Alama's position as the number one artist in the Arab world and was sold in all branches of Starbucks Coffee along with a B-side compilation album titled "Starz Vol. 1" that included the hit collaboration with Shakira "Good Stuff (Remix)".
Other work
Near the end of 2011, Alama was announced as the head of the judging panel for the new MBC show Arab Idol which is a remake of the number one show of all time American Idol. Joining Ragheb on the panel were the Gulf singer Ahlam and the music producer Hassan Shaf'ee. The Arab Idol team began its auditioning tour around the Middle East and the UK in September 2011.Endorsements
Throughout his career, Ragheb has been endorsed by several international companies and has been the face of their many marketing campaigns. Of the companies that endorsed Ragheb and featured him as part of their promotions including United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
, Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
, Samsung
Samsung
The Samsung Group is a South Korean multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea...
, Malaysian Ministry of Tourism, Malaysia Airlines
Malaysia Airlines
Malaysian Airline System Berhad , DBA Malaysia Airlines , is the government-owned flag carrier of Malaysia. Malaysia Airlines operates flights from its home base, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and its eastern hub in Kota Kinabalu. It has its headquarters on the grounds of Sultan Abdul Aziz...
, Middle East Airlines
Middle East Airlines
Middle East Airlines – Air Liban S.A.L. , more commonly known as Middle East Airlines , is the national flag-carrier airline of Lebanon, with its head office in Beirut, near Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport...
, Persol
Persol
Persol is an Italian eyewear company specializing in sunglasses. The name is derived from "per il sole," which, in Italian, means "for the sun." Formed in 1917 by Giuseppe Ratti, Persol originally catered to pilots and sports drivers. Presently, the company is famous for its durable sports sunglasses...
, The Pearl-Qatar.
Studio albums
- 1986: Ya Rayt
- 1987: Al Hadiya
- 1988: Dawa el Leil
- 1989: Ma Y'gooz
- 1991: Alby Ashe'ha
- 1993: Ya Hayati
- 1995: Taw'am Ruhy
- 1996: Alamteeny
- 1996: Sayedati el Gameela
- 1997: Bravo 'Alaiky
- 1999: Habeeby Ya Nasy
- 2001: Saharooni el Leil
- 2002: Tab Leh?
- 2004: El Hob el Kebeer
- 2008: Baa'sha'ak
- 2010: Seneen Rayha