Magda El Romy

Birth name Majda Halim El-Roumi Origin: Lebanon Genres: Arabic music Occupations: Singer, songwriter, actress Instruments: Vocals, piano, oud Years active: Early 1970s — present Majida El Roumi was born to renowned musician Halim El Roumi and wife Marie Loutfi who were a Mel kite Greek Catholic couple from Tyre, a city in South Lebanon. Halim el Roumi became a renowned musician and continued to live in Kfarshima, which was home to many Lebanese singers, musicians, poets and writers, like the late Philemon Wehbi, Melhem Barakat and Issam Rajji. The residence of Halim el Roumi in Kfarshima was a meeting place for many cultural figures. Growing up in such an artistic environment, Majida's interest in music started to show at an early age when she used to listen to the works of the prominent figures of that time, such as Fairuz, Umm Kulthoum, Abdel Wahab, Wadi AlSafi, and Asmahan. Her singing and beautiful voice attracted the attention of her family and neighbors. One of the early songs she used to sing (and which was actually saved on record) was a religious song called "Your Birth" or Miladak in reference to the birth of Jesus Christ. Raymond Safadi, Majida's cousin, was fascinated with her voice and thought that she could be very successful if she pursued singing as a profession. However, the big obstacle was her father who knew more than anyone else how difficult it was to work in the music industry. Although the father refused his daughter's participation in Télé Liban's Studio el fan, Majida, with the help of her cousin, Raymond, entered the talent show, singing songs for Asmahan and Leila Mourad, like Ya Toyour, Ana Albi Dalili, and Layali El Ouns Fi Vienna. The jury was impressed with her performance and her beautiful voice and awarded her the gold medal. Halim El Roumi gave Majida his blessings to pursue singing as a profession as long as she continued her higher education. Despite the war in Lebanon in 1975, Majida obtained her BA in Arabic Literature from the Lebanese University. On September 17, 1977, Majida got engaged to a businessman from Byblos, Lebanon. Antoine Dfouni became not only her husband but also her manager. They had two daughters: Hala and Nour. Majida and Antoine later divorced in 2006. Majida lost her sister, Maha, to cancer. Before her death, she flew to her sister who was hospitalized in the United States and stayed with her for days. When she had to come back for a concert in Cairo, Majida dedicated a song to Maha, wishing a miracle would take place to heal her. When Maha died, Majida recited a poem she wrote at her funeral in a church in Kfarshima. Her sister's death lead her to produce several religious albums and held several religious concerts. She would later release a special song dedicated to Maha. Discography: Albums: * Majida El Roumi (1977) * Live Recordings (1982) * And the Children (1983) * Dawi Ya Amar (1987) released in Egypt * Ya Saken Afkari (1988) * Kalimat (1991) * Ibhath Anni (1994) * Rasa'el (1996) * Ouhibbouka Wa Baad (1998) * Cithare Du Ciel (Qitharat Al Sama') (2003) * Erhamni Ya Allah (2003) * E'tazalt El Gharam (2006) Egyptian Songs: Remakes * La Mush Ana Elli Abki (Mohammad Abdel Wahab) - originally sang by Abdel Wahab * Ana koulli magoul al-touba (Lyrics: Abdel Rahman El-Abnoudi / Music: Baligh Hamdi) - originally sang by Abdel Halim Hafez * Ba7lef bi Samaha (Lyrics: Abdel Rahman El-Abnoudi / Music: Kamal Al-Tawil) - originally sang by Abdel Halim Hafez * Layali Al-ouns bi Vienna (Music: Farid Al-Atrach) - originally sang by Asmahan * Ya Touyour (Music: Al-Kassabji) - originally sang by Asmahan * Emta 7a te3raf - originally sang by Asmahan * Ana Albi Dalili (Music: Al-Kassabji) - originally sang by Leila Mourad