Salwa Al Katrib

Salwa Al Katrib was born on 17 September 1953 in Tripoli, Lebanon,[1] to a family of musicians.[4] Her talent was discovered by Lebanese director Romeo Lahoud.[4]

Salwa's was first cast by Romeo in a play called "Singof Singof" with Georgina Rizk and Tony Hanna in 1975. She won many awards throughout her career. Subsequently, in 1975 Said Akl awarded Katrib for her acting and singing abilities. She played in 12 musicals under the direction of Romeo Lahoud: "Bint el Jabal" with Antoine Kerbage in 1977, then with Melhem Barakat in "Amira Zmorrod". In 1979, she sang with Elie Choueri in "Oxygene". In 1980, she played "Yasmine" with Abdo Yaghi. In 1982, she was "Superstar" with Alec Khalaf. In 1983, she played in "Hikayat Amal" with Ghassan Saliba and Elias Elias.

Simone Marouani, the artistic director of the French singer Serge Lama proposed to Salwa to become an international star in France and the US. Salwa came to the attention of Simone through a TV show aired on the French national television channel TF1. Simone proposed to meet in Casino du Liban in September 1984 after Lama's concernt there. Salwa was represented by her husband Nahi and Romeo her brother-in-law. The two men were enthusatic about the deal but they were met with Salwa's refusal because she didn't want to leave her young daughter Aline.[5] In 1985, she was the star on "Al Hilm el Talett", and she performed at the festival of Bosra in Syria, and at the festival of Timgad in Algeria.[5] She sang more than 150 songs composed by Romeo Lahoud, Zaki Nassif, Toufic Bacha, Elie Choueri, Elias Rahbani and Melhem Barakat. In 1986 Romeo traveled to Paris, met with the Marouanis and returned with five-year contract which Salwa also refused.[5]

She won many awards, including, a "Special Award of Appreciation" from the mayor of Los Angeles in 1989; the "Jarash Event First Prize" and the Jordanian government's promotion and prestige in 1987%, the first prize of the Gold Eagle in Abu Dhabi for her song "Zikrayate" in 1986. She also won the Murex d'Or in 2005 and in 2009.

King Hussein of Jordan, presidents Camille Chamoun, Amine Gemayel, Michel Aoun and Elias Hrawi were her most famous supporters. Mohamad Abelwahab the great Egyptian composer asked her to sing his famous "Anta Omri". Her last appearance on TV was with Neshan Der Haroutounian in "Maestro" (2005). In 2006, she decided to stop singing because she was astonished by the degradation of the artistic situation in Lebanon.

She died on 4 March 2009, aged 55.[1] She was widely famous and respected in the Arab world. President Michel Suleiman honored her by giving her the golden medal of the Lebanese republic. She was married to Nahi Lahoud her producer and artistic director. Shortly after her death, her husband announced that he is in the process of working on a tribute film honoring her artistic life.

• Prix Said Akl (1976)
• Key of Alger (1984)
• Jerash Art Appreciation (1987)
• Award of Appreciation LA (1989)
• Scoop d'Or (1987)
• Gold Medal Independence (1991)
• Gold Eagle of Arab Song (1996)
• Gold Medal of the Army (2001)
• Murex d'Or (2005)
• Medaille d'or du merite libanais (2009)
• Murex d'or (2009)
• Award of Appreciation from Amsheet Municipality (2009)
• Award of Appreciation from Balamand University (2010)
• Award of Appreciation from Arts & Music Institute (2011)
• Award of Appreciation from Saint-Coeurs College (2011)