Sunday, June 22, 2003

Sunday, June 22, 2003

Iraqi singer Kadim to perform at Genting

PETALING JAYA: Iraqi singer Kadim Al Sahir, who recorded a duet with Sarah Brightman in her latest album, Harem, is scheduled to perform at Genting Highlands on July 10.

Kadim, a household name in the Middle East, had sold over 31 million albums to date with his hit song, Ana Wa Laila (Me and Laila). He also teamed up with Lenny Kravitz on We Want Peace, a song with a plea to the United States to propagate peace instead of war.

The Iraqi received his training in music from Baghdad’s Music Academy and was a songwriter before venturing as an artiste with his unique fusion of western classical and Arabic folk music.

The singer’s shot at stardom came after an Egyptian television executive spotted him while he was promoting his maiden hit single, Abbart-El Shatt. This led to him moving to Cairo in 1994.

Kadim eventually established himself as a voice of conscience for Arabs through his music.