Sabah (singer)

Infobox musical artist 2
Name =Sabah
_ar. صباح


Img_capt = Sabah in 2007 in Beirut
Background = solo_singer
Born = birth date and age|1927|11|10
Origin = Beirut, Lebanon
Genre = Arabic music, Arabesque-pop music

Sabah (Arabic: صباح) (b.November 10, 1927–) is a Lebanese singer and actress whose career has stretched from the year 1943 to the present.

Sabah was born as Janet Gergi Fighali in Beirut, Lebanon, although other records state that her birth place is the village of Wadi Shahroor. Ever since she was young and being a vibrant person, many boys of her age would cut her way only to be able to talk to her. She was very loved from other kids of her age. She used to act in the school plays such as the role "Amira Hend". She began singing in the 1940s, and started acting in Egyptian movies while continuing to sing. She has released over 50 albums and has acted in 98 movies, as well as almost 20 stage plays. She is among the most prolific Arabic-language singers, with a reported 3,500 songs.

Still a prominent performer at 80 years of age, she continues to perform both in concert and on television, including such programs as Lebanon's Star Academy (the Arabic equivalent of the United Kingdom's Fame Academy) where she sang her new single on a stage lined with mannequins displaying costumes from several of her early films and musical plays.

The singer is known to fans by the diminutive "Sabbouha" and is also called "Al Shahroura," or the singing bird. She is well known for her lively and expressive voice, especially the ability to sustain a single note for over a minute when performing in the Lebanese "'ataba" style. Lately, she said that her "offf" used to last for 50 seconds. Her vibrant and throaty roar in the rendition of dabke songs is unmatched.

In 1970, she had an interview with Najib Hankash where she was with her daughter; Huwaida. The interview can be seen on youtube.

In 1980, she participated in a french TV show called "Le Grand Echiquier" where she performed one of her greatest hits called "Saidi" and then she sang a duo "Aal Nadda" with french star Enrico Macias.This is probably her one and only European TV appearance dated exactly on 24/07/1980.

Sabah and her former husband Fadi Lubnan (kuntar) had a film done in the 1990s about Sabouha's life.

Sabah appeared on national Lebanese Television continuously and on a yearly basis for over 5 decades, she participated in numerous TV shows on local and Arabic television.

In 2005, she released a new Dance single. Her 2006 release, a duet with Lebanese singer Rola, is a remake of a 1970s hit. The accompanying video, in which Sabah is shown as "the notorious diva" to whom her younger colleague pays tribute, has received wide play on Arabic music channels.

In November 10, 2007 Sabah had a Birthday party where she received a phone call and a rose from General Aoun. She was with her friends and fans.

Marriages

Sabah has been married seven times, and there rumors that she was engaged to Amr Mihio ("Mr. Lebanon") in 2003. The relationship did not last, and in 2004 she admitted that it had been a stunt to catapult Omar, who was starting his acting career, into the spotlight. Her former husbands include Najib Shammas1946-1951), Anwar Mansy she stayed with him for four years, composer Baligh Hamdy, Egyptian television presenter Ahmed Farrag, Rushdy Abaza (to whom she was married for three days, but as she says also, they were married for five months. The wedding took place at his sister's home), Joe Hammoud, Wassim Tabbara, and Fadi Kuntar, alias Fadi Lubnan.

Sabbouha, lately, said that all her husbands had advantage of her career; especially, when she was at her summit of fame.

Sabah admitted that she left Rushdi abaza because he lied to her. She married him because he said that he divorsed his wife which was at the time Samia Jamal (famous belly dancer) but in truth he did not and he left his wife and kids for her. Sabah thaught that this was not appropriate for her big name at the time. So, she left him and headed to Egypt where she fell in love with the brother in law of the king Farou2 and his name was "Ali".

After all her relationships, Sabah admits that she was most in love with Joe Hammoud.

Although in April 2008 it was publicized that she got married to Joseph Gharib, her former hair dresser for 17 years (including photos of the newly weds that were published in a magazine), it was later revealed by Tony Khalifeh that she was only pulling an April Fool's joke on the public.

She has two children, Sabah (A doctor in the USA) from Najib Chammas) is married to Zeina Chammas. Her other child is the actress Howayda Mansy (by Anwar Mansy)who lives in the United States. She has two grandchildren Danielle Chammas and Naji Chammas who live in California.

Sabah was named by her former husbands as "Madam Bank". Because,she used to spend her money generously on the people that she loves.

Films

Many of Sabah's movies have not been released commercially on either VHS tape or DVD. Movies she has acted in include:
# "Nar el shawk" (1970)نار الشوق "Kanat Ayyam"with Rushdy Abaza.
# "Mawal" موال(1966)
# "Aydi el naema, El"الأيدي الناعمة (1963)
# "Motamarreda, El" (1963)المتمردة
# "Jaoz marti" (1961)جوز مرتي
# "Rajul el thani, El" (1960)الرجل الثاني
# "Ataba el khadra, El" (1959)العتبة الخضراء
# "Sharia el hub" (1959)شارع الحب
# "Salem al habaieb" (1958)
# "Izhay ansak" (1956)
# "Wahabtak hayati" (1956)
# "Khatafa mirati" (1954)
# "Lahn hubi" (1954)
# "Zalamuni el habaieb" (1953)
# "Khadaini abi" (1951)
# "(1950)
# "Sabah el khare" (1948)

External links

* [SABAH @ YAHOO http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sabah_Of_Lebanon] Unofficial SABAH website
* [http://www.Last.FM/music/Sabah Last.FM Sabah page]
*imdb name|id=0754480|name=Sabah (I) — contains a more detailed list of films Sabah has acted in
*ar icon [http://6arab.com/singers-ar/north/saba7/index-ar.shtml Sabah's Songs at 6arab.com]
*ar icon cite news | url=http://arabic.cnn.com/2005/ramadan.2005/10/26/sabah.singer/index.html | title=صباح : "الشحرورة" و "الأسطورة" | date=10 July 2005 | accessdate=2006-05-19 | publisher=CNN
* [http://www.lebanonlinks.com/society/sabah.html Biography]
* [http://www.listenarabic.com/sabah-mp3.php Sabah Songs]