Mounir Mourad

Mounir Mourad (Arabic: منير مراد‎ January 13, 1922 - October 17, 1981), born Maurice Zaki Mourad Mordechai was an Egyptian artist, singer, actor, and distinguished composer of lighthearted songs. His compositions included duets for Shadia and Abdel Halim Hafez.

Mounir Mourad منير مراد
Mounir Mourad
Background information
Birth name	Maurice Zaki Murad Mordechai
Born	January 13, 1922 Cairo, Egypt
Died	17 October 1981(1981-10-17) (aged 59)
Occupation(s)	Singer,Actor and distinguished composer
Labels	Pioneer in Arabic dance music

He played the leading roles in a few Egyptian films, the most famous being "Of the Good Day" (Naharak Sa'id).[1]

His father Ibrahim Zaki Mourad Mordechai was a famous Jewish Egyptian singer,[2] musician and composer in the early twentieth century, his mother was a Jewish Egyptian called Gamilah Ibrahim Roushou, the daughter of Ibrahim Roushou, a local concert contractor in the early 20th century who regularly booked Zaki Mourad to sing at concerts and wedding parties.[3][4] Mourad was born in Cairo. When Mounir was growing up, his sister, the artist Leila Mourad was already famous and singing on Egyptian radio.

In 1939, Mourad left his French college (Collège des Frères (Bab al-Louq)) took various jobs, then entered the field of cinema, firstly as a script supervisor (Klaket), and then as an assistant director to Kamal Salim in about 24 films in the 1940s.

Mourad attempted to compose and present jazz music that was popular at that time in the West, but faced difficulties in promoting it and to convince anyone to produce it. His big breakthrough, however, came when he composed his first popular song "One Two" ("Wahed .. Etneen") sung by Shadia which then opened the way for the singers and film-makers to entrust him to compose songs in many movies.

Mourad was a pioneer in dance music and musical shows. He composed and developed much of Egypt's most famous dance music, performed by the leading dancers of the time, Tahiya Karioka, Samia Gamal, and Naima Akef.

His association with singer Shadia was a milestone in the history of Egyptian music as their songs have become classic songs of romance in Egypt. In addition, songs for Abdel Halim Hafez served as a special aspect of the Halim experience.

Mounir Mourad composed music for several other singers from Egypt and some Arab countries with the same method, which is characterised with successive rapid rhythm.

Mounir also acted in three movies, acting and singing mixing jazz with oriental music.

Mounir Mourad was married to actress Soher Al Bably and like his sister Leila Mourad converted to Islam early in his life.