Ragheb Alama

Ragheb Sobhi Alama (Arabic: راغب صبحي علامة; born 7 June 1962) is a Lebanese music artist and television personality. Alama began his career in the 1980s when he appeared as a contestant on the talent show broadcast Studio El Fan, on which he received the Platinum Award. Alama rose to fame after winning Studio El Fan, since then releasing yearly albums and number-one hit singles such as "Ya Rait" (If Only), "'Aan Jad" (Seriously) and "Alby Asheq'ha" (My Heart Adores Her), which was the first Arabic song in history to be made into a music video. Alama continued his success into the 2000s with the release of his chart-topping albums Saharony El Leil (2001), Tab Leh (2002), El Hob El Kebeer (2004) and Ba'asha'ak (2008), the latter which earned the artist the Platinum certification from Virgin Megastores for its record sales. In 2009, he is appointed as the United Nations Ambassador of Climate Change. In 2010, his album Seneen Rayha saw the artist team with Starbucks for its release and sale, making him the first Arab artist to have his album sold at Starbucks. His follow-up album Habib Dehkati also included a song featuring international pop artist Shakira. Alama has won two Murex d'Or Awards and several other awards during his career. His albums have made him one of the most commercially successful singers in the Arab world. In mid-2011, it was announced that Alama would head the judging panel for the pan-Arab version of the American Idol series. Alama was born in Ghoubeiry in Beirut, Lebanon. He was born into a Shia family, the son of Sobhi Alama and Wafiqa Alama. He has four brothers (Mohammad, Ahmad, Khoder and Hassan) and three sisters (Sabiha, Rima, and Lina) - of which he is the middle child. His father named him after the first Lebanese judge, "Ragheb Beik Alama". At eight years old, Ragheb took up playing the oud and participated in a live radio program to showcase his talent. In 1996, he married Jihane al-Ali, who gave birth to his two sons, Khaled (born 1998) and Louai (born 2001). In 2000, Alama recorded "Betgheeb Betrouh" with then-rising singer Elissa. In 2003, he released "Tab Leh" (Oh Why?) under the recording label Alam El Phan and the title track entered the number one spot for several weeks. He also featured famous Iranian-Armenian singer-songwriter Andy Madadian on a track titled "Yalla Ya Chabab" (Let's Go Guys).