George Wassouf: the legend of nowadays in the field of Arabic music
- Abir Ben Amara
- Jan 8, 2018
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 26
On December 23, 1961, a legend was born in Syria - the most prominent Syrian singer came to life in Kafroun from a Greek Orthodox Christian family. George Wassouf is recognized as one of the most talented artists today in the Arab world.
When we mention George, we refer to a voice unlike any other you could ever encounter. We discuss the authentic feelings and emotions conveyed in his heart-touching songs.
We highlight also the string of hits that define his tremendously successful career with more than 90 millions records sold worldwide. In essence, we celebrate the legend of today oriental song.
Beginnings
It all started at an early age for George: at the age of 10. Wassouf started singing in his hometown in Syria in family gatherings and in school while playing with siblings.
At the age of 12, while singing at a wedding party, George Wassouf was first seen by George Yazbeck, who would later become his manager and producer. Yazbeck knew, from the first sight, that Wassouf will have a great musical career ahead of him.
During George's early journey in the music industry, Yazbeck also supported him and played a crucial role in establishing his reputation in the field of oriental music since 1974.
Years later, the talented young boy moved to Beirut, Lebanon, where his popularity continued to grow, and his circumstances improved significantly.
At the age of 16, George Wassouf released his iconic song "El Hawa Sultan", which achieved significant success in 1987 throughout the Arab world. From then on, he was nicknamed "Sultan Al Tarab".
At the age of 19, he went on to become even more popular after appearing on the Lebanese TV show "Studio El Fan".
Major success
The 64-year-old singer has released over 34 albums throughout nearly five decades, showcasing an incredibly successful career that anyone would be proud of.
The veteran Syrian-Lebanese singer has released numerous hits during his career, including "Kalam Al-Nas" in 1994, "Ya Leil El Ashekin" in 1996, "Tabeeb Garah" in 1999 that he produced with Rotana, "Dol Mush Habayeb" in 2000, and "Heya El-Ayam" in 2006, among many other tunes.
Due to his distinctive and mountainous voice, powerful vocal abilities, and unique singing style, Abu Wadîa - his nickname according to the birth of his first son - has earned significant recognition and respect in both the Arab world and even worldwide. Now, he is regarded as one of the most prominent and well-known singers, especially in the Arab world.
Ups and Downs
Known for his unique presence on the stage, his singing style, and his great ability to communicate genuine emotions to his audience, George Wassouf has made major contributions to the music industry in the Arab region.
Recognized for his non-conformity and extravagant lifestyle, George has been, nevertheless, "arrested several times by the police for drug possession and use", according to Al-Arabiya Channel and other media outlets.
Since 2015, he had been, more or less, out of the spotlight for several years because of health problems and other issues.
Now in 2026, his popularity remained unchangeable and unaffected because of the quality and depth of his art, the sincerity of his performance, feelings, and words, and mostly due to the people's permanent love and cherishing.
Article updated on 25 January 2026
Note: click on the words in blue to get more details about the making of this article.
Comments