George Wassouf

George Wassouf (Arabic: جورج وسوف; 23 December 1961) is a Syrian singer.^[2][3][4] In a career spanning more than four decades, he has released more than 30 albums, with a significantly large audience of fans throughout the Arab world. Dubbed Sultan El-Tarab (Arabic: سلطان الطرب), he is one of the most successful Arab singers selling over 60 million records worldwide.^[5]

George Wassouf
جورج وسوف
Wassouf in 2009
Born	(1961-12-23) 23 December 1961 (age 63) Kafroun, Syria
Occupations	Actor singer
Spouses	Shalimar Wassouf ​ ​ (m. 1982; div. 2009)​ Nada Zeidan ​ ​ (m. 2014; div. 2016)​
Children	4
Musical career
Genres	Arabic Music[1]
Years active	1971–present
Labels	Rotana Relax-In EMI Music Arabia
Website	wassoufworld.com

Early life and career

Wassouf was born in Kafroun, Syria to a Greek Orthodox Christian family.^[6] Wassouf started singing at the age of 10 in his hometown Kafroun. He was discovered by his first manager and producer George Yazbeck at a wedding party that Wassouf was performing at, aged 12 years old. At the age of 16, he was called Sultan El-Tarab (The Sultan of Music) by the Lebanese journalist George Ibrahim El Khoury, a magazine director, with his classic song "el-Hawa Sultan".^[7] At age 19, he appeared on the 1980 Lebanese show Studio El Fan as Sultan of Tarab.^[7] Wassouf also holds Lebanese citizenship.

Wassouf preferred not to shoot music videos for his songs saying: "I don't feel I can act... I really can't... I only find myself when I'm on the stage... singing, but the video clip forces me to act".^[7]

Personal life

George Wassouf married his first wife, Shalimar, at the age of 21. They have three children: Wadih, Hatem and George Jr. The couple separated after 28 years of marriage in 2009.^[8] On January 6, 2023, their eldest son Wadih died due to complications from a gastric bypass surgery.^[9]

In 2014, he married Qatar rally champion Nada Zeidan, his second wife. They divorced in 2016.^[10] Their daughter, Oyoon, was born in October 2015.^[11]

Wassouf was a prominent supporter of President Bashar al-Assad's government throughout the Syrian Civil War.^[12]

In 2008, he was arrested in Sweden for possession of cocaine.^[13]

Discography

• 1983: Ouwidni Salmtek Byied Allah
• 1984: El Hawa Sultan
• 1992: Rouh El Rouh
• 1993: She' Ghareeb
• 1995: Kalam El Nass
• 1996: Leil Al Ashiqeen
• 1998: Lissa El Dounya Bi Khair
• 1999: Tabeeb Garrah
• 2000: Dol Mush Habayib
• 2001: Zaman El Ajayib
• 2002: Inta Gherhom
• 2003: Salaf Wi Deine
• 2004: Etakhart Kteer
• 2006: Heya El Ayam
• 2008: Kalamak Ya Habibi
• 2009: Allah Kareem, Shoukran
• 2012: Best of Wassouf
• 2015: Shtaanelak

Live Albums

• Sings Oum Kolthoum Vol. 1, 1983.
• Sings Oum Kolthoum Vol. 2, 1995.
• Sings Oum Kolthoum Vol. 3, 1997.
• Sings Abdel Halim Hafez, 1998.
• Sings Warda, 1999

Singles

• "Ahla Ayam El Omr", 1995.
• "Amri Lellah", 1995.
• "Mahlak Tmahal Ya Malak", 1995.
• "Rahal El Batal", 2000.
• "Ferhat Rejouak Ya Loubnan", 2010.
• "Dawarat El Ayam", 2010.
• "Aady Ya Donia", 2011.
• "Biyehsedouni", 2011.
• "Seket El Kalam", 2013 ^[14]
• "Bisaalouni Aleik", 2013.
• "Ya Oumi", 2013.
• "Zekrayat", 2013.
• "Shouq El Omr", 2013.
• "Tarakni Ghab", 2014.
• "Bandahlak", 2017.
• "Malikat Gamal El Rouh", 2018 ^[15]
• "Hal El Garih", 2019.
• "Sahi El Leil", 2020.
• "Byetkallem Aalaya", 2022.
• "Noss Omry", 2023.

Clips

• Yalli Taebna Senin Fi Hawah, 1986.
• Ya Moualdani, 1986.
• Kalam El Nass, 1994.
• Erda Bel Nassib, 1996.
• Lissa El Donya Bkheir, 1998.
• Tabib Garah, 1999.
• Ana Assef, 1999.
• Dul Mush Habayeb, 2000.
• Ma Teoulou Leih, 2000.
• Zaman El Agayeb, 2001.
• Youm El Wadaa, 2001.
• Salaf We Dayn, 2003.
• Etakhart Ktir, 2004.
• Sehert El Leyl, 2004.
• Leilat Wadaana, 2006.
• Asaab Fourak, 2008.
• Aallem Albi El Shouk, 2008.
• Ferhat Rejouak Ya Loubnan, 2010.
• Dawarat El Ayam, 2010.
• Biyehsedouni, 2011.
• Malikat Gamal El Rouh, 2018.
• Hal El Garih, 2019.
• Sahi El Leil, 2020.