Wael Kfoury life and biography

Michel Emile Kfoury, known by his stage name Wael Kfoury is a well-known Lebanese Pop singer, musician and songwriter.

Career:

After winning the Studio El Fan music competition, he had a first successful single in "Ma Wa'adtak bi Njoum el Leyl", immediately followed by "Meen Habeebi Ana", a duo with another Studio El Fan winner Nawal Al Zoghbi.

Wael Kfoury signed with the Music Box music label and released three albums in 1994, 1995 and 1996 with the label, and that year was chosen as Best Singer in Lebanon.

He had to suspend his musical career for one year to do his mandatory military service in the Lebanese Army from September 1996 to September 1997. Prior to joining up, he released the popular single "Rayeh 'al Jeysh" encouraging other youth to enrol in military service. During that period, he was highly publicised by the Lebanese Army as a role model for Lebanese youth, with frequent musical appearances in the media. He was also seen performing to other Lebanese conscripts on national occasions including Lebanese Independence Day, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Lebanese Army Day, and at the end of his service he released a full album of songs recounting his experience in an album entitled 12 Months, the duration of obligatory military service in Lebanon.

Immediately after his release, he took part in the Jerash Festival in Jordan and Nahr el Founoun Festival in Lebanon. in 1998 he signed exclusive broadcasting rights with Arab Radio and Television Network (ART) for his Gulf song "Al Shawq" after a fallout with Simon Asmar, the owner of Studio El Fan. After a highly publicized rift, there was a public reconciliation between the two during the Lebanese Music Festival in August 1999 when Kfoury appeared in the 14th anniversary celebrations of the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation directed by Simon Asmar.

In 2000 Wael Kfoury signed for Rotana Records, a highly successful pan-Arab music label, and largely due to the success of his first album with Rotana called Sa'alouni, won the Murex Lebanese Award for Best Male Singer.

In his following album Shou Ra'yak, and for the first time in his musical career, he took part in writing and composing of some of the songs. The album went platinum in the Arab World. He remains popular throughout the Arab World as well as the Arab diaspora in North America, Europe, Africa and Australia with frequent sold-out tours.

In addition, in 2003, Wael Kfoury released his most successful song ever, "Omri Killo". In the following years, Kfoury released further albums that achieved international success with songs such as "Osset Oshaq", "Bhibbak Ana Ktir", "Bhinn", "Mista'a Ktir", "Tabkil Toyour", "Arrib Layyi", and "Hobbak Azab". His songs are noted for his mawwal style and a romantic element.

Albums:

1994: Shafouha w Sarou Y'oulou
1995: Mayyet Fiki
1996: Ba'd el Sentayn
1997: Tna'shar Shaher
1998: Shubbak el Houb
1999: Hikayat 'Asheq
2000: Sa'alouni
2001: Shou Ra'yak
2003: Oumri Killo
2004: Qorb Liyya
2006: Bhebak ana ktyr
2007: Byihenn
2010: Kfoury Classic

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