Asmahan
| Asmahan أسمهان |
|
|---|---|
Asmahan
|
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Amal al-Atrash |
| Born |
25 November 1912 Mediterranean sea |
| Died | 14 July 1944 (aged 31) Mansoura, Egypt |
| Genres | Arabic music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actor |
| Associated acts | Farid al-Atrash |
Amal al-Atrash (Arabic: آمال الأطرش Āmāl al-Aṭrash; 25 November 1912 – 14 July 1944), better known by her stage name Asmahan (أسمهان Asmahān), was an Egyptian singer and actress of Syrian origins who lived in Egypt. Having immigrated to Egypt at the age of three years old, her family knew the composer Dawood Hosni, and she sang the compositions of Mohamed El Qasabgi and Zakariyya Ahmad. She also sang the compositions of Mohammed Abdel Wahab and her brother Farid al-Atrash, a then rising star musician in his own right. Her voice was one of the few female voices in Arab music world to pose serious competition to that of Umm Kulthum, who is considered to be one of the Arab world's most distinguished singers of the 20th century. Her mysterious death in an automobile accident shocked the public. Journalists spread gossip about her turbulent personal life and an alleged espionage role in World War II.
Asmahan was born to Fahd al-Atrash, a Syrian Druze from Suwayda, and 'Alia al-Mundhir, a Lebanese Druze from Hasbaya. Her father came from the Druze al-Atrash clan, well known in Syria for its role in fighting against the French occupation.
Asmahan's father supposedly served as governor of the district of Demirci in Turkey, during the last days of the Ottoman Empire. Asmahan's father, fled the country with his children and pregnant wife. On 25 November 1917, they embarked on a ship from İzmir to Beirut, and Asmahan was born on board. She was named "Amal", meaning "hopes". She was also called "Emily", but always preferred the name "Amal". After the French came into power, the family returned to Jabal al-druze.
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