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He was born in Al-Halawat, in Ash-Sharqiyah Governorate, 80 kilometres north of Cairo, Egypt. Abdel-Halim was the fourth child of Sheikh Ali Ismail Shabana. He had two brothers, Ismail and Mohammed, and one sister, Aliah. Abdel-Halim's mother died from complications after giving birth to him, and his father died five months later leaving Abdel-Halim and his siblings orphaned at a young age. Abdel-Halim was raised by his aunt and uncle in Cairo. His musical abilities first became apparent while he was in primary school, and his older brother Ismail Shabana was his first music teacher. At the age of 11 he joined the Arabic Music Institute in Cairo and became known for singing the songs of Mohammed Abdel Wahab. He graduated from the Higher Theatrical Music Institute as an oboe player. While singing in clubs in Cairo, Abdel-Halim was drafted as a last-minute substitute when singer Karem Mahmud was unable to sing a scheduled live radio performance in honor of the first anniversary of the 1952 Revolution, on June 18, 1953. Abdel Halim's performance was enormously popular with the live audience, and was heard by Hafez Abdel-Wahab, supervisor of musical programming for Egyptian national radio, who decided to support the then unknown singer. Abdel-Halim took 'Hafez', Abdel-Wahab's first name, as his stage-surname in recognition of his patronage. To date, his songs have sold more copies than the Beatles, Elvis, and Michael Jackson combined. His songs became so popular that arenas and stadiums could not handle the masses. He later began to perform in deserts, Roman coliseums, and outdoor arenas, some of which gathered as many as one million people. Abdel-Halim became one of the most popular singers and actors of his generation, and is considered one of the four greats of Egyptian and Arabic music, along with Umm Kulthum, Mohammed Abdel-Wahab and Farid al-Attrach. Abdel-Halim died on March 30, 1977, a few months short of his 48th birthday, while undergoing treatment for Bilharzia in King's College Hospital, London. His funeral (in Cairo) was attended by millions of people – more than any funeral in Egyptian history (except those of President Nasser (1970) and Umm Kulthum (1975). Fourteen women committed suicide on hearing of his death. He is buried in al-Rifa'i Mosque in Cairo. Filmography
Lahn Al-Wafa (The Song of Truth) as Galal
Ayyamna al-Holwa (Our Beautiful Days) as Ali
Ayam We Layali (Days and Nights)
Mawed Gharam (Promised Love) as Samir
Dalila (Dalila) as Ahmed
Banat Al-Yom (The Girls of Today) as Khaled
Fata Ahlami (The Man Of My Dreams)
Al-wisada Al-Khalia (The Empty Pillow) as Salah
Share' Al-Hob (Love Street)
Hekayit Hob (A Love Story) as Ahmed Sami
Al-Banat Wel-Seif (Girls and Summer)
Yom Men Omri (A Day of My Life) as Salah
Al-Khataya (The Sins) as Hussien
Maabodat Al-Gamahir (The Beloved Diva) as Ibrahim Farid
Abi Foq Al-Shagara (My Father Atop a Tree) as Adel
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Abdel-Halim Ismail Shabana commonly known as Abdel-Halim Hafez June 21, 1929 – March 30, 1977), was one of the most popular Egyptian singers and actors not only in Egypt but throughout the Middle East from the 1950s to the 1970s. He is widely considered to be one of the four 'greats' of Egyptian and Arabic music, along with Umm Kulthum, Mohammed Abdel-Wahab and Farid al-Attrach. Abdel-Halim's music is still played on radio daily in Egypt and the Arab world. He was also known as al-Andaleeb al-Asmar (the Dark Nightingale).