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Umm Kulthum was a very famous Egyptian singer, considered as one of the greatest of her time. Her actual birth date is unknown. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124612595
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Umm Kulthum grew up as the daughter of a rural village cleric, and moved to Cairo at a young age, as many people encouraged her and her father to go there to further her career in the entertainment business. http://almashriq.hiof.no/egypt/700/780/umKoulthoum/biography.html
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Umm Kulthum began to make commercial recordings, her voice had immediately caused notice in the press for being exceptionally strong and vibrant. Her musical skill and financial stability also increased in the 1930s. http://almashriq.hiof.no/egypt/700/780/umKoulthoum/biography.html
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One of Umm Kulthum's commitments expanded to include the Egyptian National Radio in 1934. http://almashriq.hiof.no/egypt/700/780/umKoulthoum/biography.html
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Umm Kulthum started her career in films in 1935. http://almashriq.hiof.no/egypt/700/780/umKoulthoum/biography.html
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Fairuz, or Nouhad Haddad, was born in 1935. Like Umm Kulthum, her exact birthday is unknown. Fairuz was one of the greatest Lebanese female singers in the Middle East. http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/700/780/fairuz/legend/biography.html
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Her father saved some of his income so she could afford an education. Fairuz's voice was immediately discovered by a teacher from the Lebanon Conservatory. The man, Muhammad Fleifel was looking for new children to sing national hymns on the Lebanon Radio, and helped to coach Fairuz on how to use her vocals. He also helped Fairuz enter the National Conservatory. http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/700/780/fairuz/legend/biography.html
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The 1940s to the 1950s were considered the "Golden Age" of Umm Kulthum. Umm Kulthum was at the top of her artistic accomplishments, in control of all of her endeavors, and highly influential in the criitcal medium of radio broadcasting. http://almashriq.hiof.no/egypt/700/780/umKoulthoum/biography.html
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Fairuz collaborated with 'Assi Rahbani, Halim al-Rumi, and Mansour Rahbani to create the song "Itab" (Blame) which launched their career and established Fairuz as a major singer in the Arab world overnight. http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/700/780/fairuz/legend/biography.html
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Fairuz was eventually married to 'Assi Rahbani in July 1954. http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/700/780/fairuz/legend/biography.html
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Fairuz faced an audience in the open for the first time in the summer of 1957. People were spellbound after hearing her sing, and from that moment on, she would go on to sing and act in major musicals. http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/700/780/fairuz/legend/biography.html
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Umm Kulthum started her television career in the 1960s. http://almashriq.hiof.no/egypt/700/780/umKoulthoum/biography.html
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Some of Umm Kulthum's well known songs are "Enta Omri" (https://youtu.be/XPGHpBOt5sE) "Alf Lela We Lela" (https://youtu.be/sjo6ajQ6uTs) and "Fakarouni" (https://youtu.be/0z_YBP3oHUo)
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Assala Nasri was born in Damascus, Syria to a middle class couple. Assala's father was a respected singer and composer. http://www.assala.ws/biography/
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Umm Kulthum suffered a gall bladder attack which postponed her March and April concerts, and the following winter, she also suffered a serous kidney infection forcing cancellations of two more of her concerts. http://almashriq.hiof.no/egypt/700/780/umKoulthoum/biography.html
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Assala began her musical career performing patriotic, religious, and children's songs at the age of four. http://www.assala.ws/biography/
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Umm Kulthum died of heart failure on February 3, 1975. The crowd of people who showed up filled the streets of Cairo, and her funeral was held at the Umar Muakram mosque in central Cairo, the site for well-known Muslims in the city.
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Assala Nasri's father died from internal bleeding caused by a car accident. At age 17, she helped care for her siblings with her mother. http://www.assala.ws/biography/
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Some of Fairuz's popular songs are "Ya Tayr" (https://youtu.be/EBSmSDhJKHQ) "Le Beirut"(https://youtu.be/dIMkIkHae9w) and "Kifak Inta" (https://youtu.be/PLzMl_Qpn3U)
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Assala Nasri debuted with her first album, Law Ta'rafou in 1991. It was an instant hit with songs like "Ya Sabra Yana" and "Samehtak Ketir". SHe quickly cemented her presence in the Arabic industry. http://www.assala.ws/biography/
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After Umm Kulthum's death, she still managed to inspire other musicians like Bob Dylan and Led Zeppelin. http://www.arabicgenie.com/2013/06/arab-singers-the-top-10-of-all-time
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Fairouz herself has influenced the Arabic world greatly, but she had married one of the two Rahbani brothers, who were also well known for develpoing a distinct style of Lebanese music at the time. Fairuz and her husband 'Assi Rahbani also had a son named Ziad before 'Assi died. Fairuz is still alive today, and continues to inspire many. Her legacy lives on. http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/700/780/fairuz/legend/biography.html
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Some of Assala Nasri's well-known songs are "Samahtak Keteer" (https://youtu.be/iuFa6ccgPTs) "Arod Leeh" (https://youtu.be/52Uf9cZkD1U) and "El Ward El Balady" (https://youtu.be/1OVMf51WS_I)
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Assala had two kids from her first marriage with Ayman Al Dahabi. They divorced in 2005. http://www.assala.ws/biography/
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Assala is now currently married to Tarek Al Aryaan, a famous Palestinian American director. She has two kids from her marriage with him, and currently lives in Egypt. http://www.assala.ws/biography/
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Assala was granted Bahraini citizenship after a spectacular performance in the operetta Love and Loyalty in celebration of Bahrain's independence. Assala has also won many awards, including Best Artist in Dubai in 1994, Award for the Middle East, Egypt from 1998-2000, and Best Female Singer award for the year 2005-2006 AD. http://www.assala.ws/biography/
