Abdel Halim Hafez

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Abdel Halim Hafez

Role / Field:

Iconic Egyptian singer and actor, known as 'The Brown-Skinned Nightingale'.

Born:

1929-06-21

Died:

1977-03-30

Century / Era:

1929s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Abdel Halim Ali Shabana (Arabic: عبد الحليم علي شبانة), commonly known as Abdel Halim Hafez (Arabic: عبد الحليم حافظ, Egyptian Arabic pronunciation: [ʕæbd el ħæliːm ħɑːfɪzˤ]) (21 June 1929 – 30 March 1977), was an Egyptian singer, actor, conductor, businessman, music teacher and film producer. Abdel Halim is considered to be one of the greatest Egyptian musicians of his era, along with Umm Kulthum, Mohamed Abdel Wahab, Farid Al Atrach, Mohamed Fawzi, and Shadia. As his popularity grew, he was given the nickname 'el-Andaleeb el-Asmar (Arabic: العندليب الأسمر), meaning The Brown-Skinned Nightingale. He achieved extraordinary success as a popular musician throughout the Arab world, with estimated sales of over 80 million records.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Born Abdel Halim Ali Shabanah in El-Halawat in El Sharqia, 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Cairo, he was the fourth child of Ali Ismail Shabanah. He had two brothers, Ismail and Mohamed, and one sister, Alyah. His mother died from labor complications three days after giving birth to him – something that made people around him believe that he brought bad luck. His father died as well a few months later, leaving him and his siblings orphaned at...

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1929 (1929-06-21): Birth of Abdel Halim Hafez — Iconic Egyptian singer and actor, known as 'The Brown-Skinned Nightingale'.
2. 1977 (1977-03-30): Passing & Historical Legacy — Abdel Halim Hafez passed away on 1977-03-30, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Abdel Halim Hafez

True or False: “Abdel Halim Hafez's nickname, 'The Brown-Skinned Nightingale', was given because of his vocal range alone.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The nickname was a combination of his appearance and his extraordinary singing talent, not solely his vocal range.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Abd El-Razzak El-Sanhuri — Shared historical date (06-21 · Died) (1971): Pioneering Egyptian jurist, celebrated for authoring the revised Civil Code of 1948.
• Aloysius Gonzaga — Shared historical date (06-21 · Died) (1591): Italian Jesuit seminarian and saint, known for his aristocratic background and early death.
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• 1929 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1929
• June 21 (06-21) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on June 21
• 1977 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1977
• March 30 (03-30) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on March 30

Frequently Asked Questions about Abdel Halim Hafez