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Carla Nazih Berkachi^[1] (Arabic: كارلا نزيه البرقاشي‎) (born June 1, 1983), commonly known as Yara (Arabic: يارا‎), is a female Lebanese pop singer. Yara was discovered by Lebanese composer Tarek Abou Jaoudeh. Yara started her musical career with the ballad "Hob Kbeer". in 2006, Yara joined Fadel Shakir in a duet called "khedni ma'ak" which was written by Tarek Abou Jaoudeh. In 2009 she joined Jean-Marie Riachi for the album Belaaks with the song "Shefto min biid" ("I Saw Him") in Lebanese dialect.

Discography[link]

Albums:

• Twassa Feyi(2005)
• Enta Menni (2008)
• La'ale' Khalijiya (2009)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website

Fadl Shaker فضل شاكر
Background information
Birth name	Fadl Abdulrahman Shamndar فضل عبدالرحمن شمندر
Born	(1969-04-01) April 1, 1969 (age 43)
Origin	Lebanese
Genres	Egyptian Music, Arabic Music, Pop, Arabesque-pop music, Pop folk
Years active	1996-present
Labels	Rotana
Website	www.fadl-shaker.com

Fadl Shaker (Arabic: فضل شاكر‎) (Fadl Abdulrahman Shamandar, born on April 1, 1969 فضل عبدالرحمن شمندر) is a famous Lebanese singer of Palestinian descent.

1997 Early Commercial Success[link]

In 1997, he was discovered by an agent from the recording label Stallions Company, and was signed on to produce three albums. This was Fadl's first significant career break.

Fadl released his first album Wallah Zaman in 1998, which had eight original songs, including "Meta Habeby Meta", "Nazra Wah". Some of these songs were composed and written by such known Arab stars like Salah El Sharnoby and Ahmed Sheta.

The second album was Baya'a El Qolob released in 1999, and the title song hit # 1 on all charts in the first week of the album's debut. The song was also very popular on radio stations throughout the Middle East. Due to the overwhelming success and huge sales of the album, Fadl decided to produce two music video clips, the first was for the song "Baya'a El Qolob" and the second was for "Eesheqtak". As a result of his first album's astonishing success, Fadl was catapulted to become one of the top superstars in the Middle East.

2000 - 2002[link]

His third album was El Hob El Adem, released in 2000. It included very famous songs like Ash Men Shafak. This album was also a huge success, just like his previous album. It topped all charts as well. His fourth album Hobak Khayal was released in 2001, and contained 10 songs this time, and was produced by Al Khoyoul Company. It contained songs like Hazzak Ya Qalby, Men Kotr Hoby Feek, and El Maraya.

In 2002, Fadl recorded and released his first duo with the renowned Arabic gulf singer Nawal. This duet topped the charts for five months straight, and broke all sales records in the Arab world. It was voted by music critics as the best duo in the history of Arabic Gulf music. Its success was also complemented by the release of a hot music video clip, directed by Ahmed El Doghajy.

In the first album, Fadl Shaker composed three of his famous songs (Meta Habeby Meta, Maserak Habeby and Ya Tkon Habeby), and one song in his 2nd album Malet Ana A'azar. He didn't compose any other songs in the albums that followed.

2003 - 2011[link]

In 2003, Fadl released his new smash-hit ballad Ya Ghayeb to Arabic radio stations all over the Middle East. The song was voted the Best song for 2003 by various radio stations. As a result, it became a big hit before the album or any music videos were released. The song reached #1 status on all Arabic stations in the Middle East. Fadl bought all rights of the tune for his song from Greek composer and singer, Sotis Volanis, and the lyrics were written by Prince Turky Bin Abdel Rahman El Sudairy, who also wrote another song of Fadl's coming album called Dehkat El Dony.

Fadl Shaker was always concerned about singing maqamat, the hardest of Arabic melodies, and he always tried to preserve the true Arabic musical style in all of his songs. His songs are known not to have any western melody influence. Fadl is known for his unique singing style, and as a result, has built a huge fan base throughout the Middle East.

During his musical career, Fadl has won many prestigious music awards in the Middle East, and in just four years (1998–2002) he became one of the Middle East greatest music legends. He was nicknamed by his fans as Malek El Romansia or King of Romance.

Fadl Shaker also performed in major Arabic Festivals in many Arab countries like Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, and other countries worldwide. He also performed with other well known Arabic singers, in a big festival in honor of the Intifada.

Fadl enjoys fishing on his boat at the shores of his birth city, (Saida), and also enjoys most water sports. He loves to play the Piano and enjoys listening to old and modern music with his wife and kids. He's a big fan of sambosas and enjoys working at his restaurant in Saida.

Given the Palestinian Citizenship[link]

During an interview with Al Arabiya TV channel^[1], Fadel Shaker stressed the fact that he is from Lebanese descent, married to a Palestinian woman, yet he would be proud of being a Palestinian, asking the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas to give him the Palestinian citizenship. He said that he was raised with Palestinian refugees, and used to sing on roofs of Palestinian homes in refugee camps in Lebanon. Later that day, Mahmoud Abbas announced giving Shaker the Palestinian passport.

Albums[link]

• Walah Zaman 1998
• Baya' El Oolob 1999
• El Hob El Adeem 2000
• Hobak Khayal 2001
• Sidi Rouhy 2003
• Saharney El Shook 2004
• Allah Aalam 2006
• Baada Aal Bal 2009
• Jado 2011 -

References[link]

External links[link]

• Fadl Shaker's Official Website
• Fadl Shaker Links website