Halakha () — also transliterated Halocho (Ashkenazic Hebrew pronunciation), Halacha, or Halakhah — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law (the 613 mitzvot) and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.

Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish religious tradition does not distinguish clearly between religious, national, racial, or ethnic identities. Halakha guides not only religious practices and beliefs, but numerous aspects of day-to-day life. Halakha is often translated as "Jewish Law", although a more literal translation might be "the path" or "the way of walking". The word is derived from the Hebrew root that means to go or to walk.

Historically in the diaspora, Halakha served many Jewish communities as an enforceable avenue of civil and religious law. Since the Age of Enlightenment, emancipation, and haskalah in the modern era, Jewish citizens are bound to Halakha only by their voluntary consent. Under contemporary Israeli law, however, certain areas of Israeli family and personal status law are under the authority of the rabbinic courts and are therefore treated according to Halakha. Some differences in Halakha itself are found among Ashkenazi, Mizrahi, Sephardi, and Yemenite Jews, which are reflective of the historic and geographic diversity of various Jewish communities within the Diaspora.

Terminology

The name Halakha is derived from the Hebrew halakh הלך, which means "to walk" or "to go"; thus a literal translation does not yield "law", but rather "the way to go". The term Halakha may refer to a single law, to the literary corpus of rabbinic legal texts, or to the overall system of religious law. The root may be Semitic aqqa, meaning "to be true, be suitable".

Halakha is often contrasted with Aggadah, the diverse corpus of rabbinic exegetical, narrative, philosophical, mystical, and other "non-legal" literatures. At the same time, since writers of Halakha may draw upon the aggadic and even mystical literature, there is a dynamic interchange between the genres.

Halakha constitutes the practical application of the 613 mitzvot ("commandments", singular: mitzvah) in the Torah, (the five books of Moses, the "Written Law") as developed through discussion and debate in the classical rabbinic literature, especially the Mishnah and the Talmud (the "Oral law"), and as codified in the Mishneh Torah or Shulchan Aruch (the Jewish "Code of Law".)

The Halakha is a comprehensive guide to all aspects of human life, both corporeal and spiritual. Its laws, guidelines, and opinions cover a vast range of situations and principles, in the attempt to realize what is implied by the central Biblical commandment to "be holy as I your God am holy". They cover what are better ways for a Jew to live, when commandments conflict how one may choose correctly, what is implicit and understood but not stated explicitly in the Bible, and what has been deduced by implication though not visible on the surface.

Because Halakha is developed and applied by various halakhic authorities, rather than one sole "official voice", different individuals and communities may well have different answers to halakhic questions. Controversies lend rabbinic literature much of its creative and intellectual appeal. With few exceptions, controversies are not settled through authoritative structures because during the age of exile Jews have lacked a single judicial hierarchy or appellate review process for Halakha. Instead, Jews interested in observing Halakha typically choose to follow specific rabbis or affiliate with a more tightly structured community.

Halakha has been developed and pored over throughout the generations since before 500 BCE, in a constantly expanding collection of religious literature consolidated in the Talmud. First and foremost it forms a body of intricate judicial opinions, legislation, customs, and recommendations, many of them passed down over the centuries, and an assortment of ingrained behaviors, relayed to successive generations from the moment a child begins to speak. It is also the subject of intense study in yeshivas; see Torah study.

Laws of the Torah

:See also Oral law; Halacha l'Moshe m'Sinai; Relationship between the Bible and the Mishnah and Talmud.

Broadly, the Halakha comprises the practical application of the commandments (each one known as a mitzvah) in the Torah, as developed in subsequent rabbinic literature; see The Mitzvot and Jewish Law. According to the Talmud (Tractate Makot), there are 613 mitzvot ("commandments") in the Torah; in Hebrew these are known as the Taryag mitzvot תרי"ג מצוות. There are 248 positive mitzvot and 365 negative mitzvot given in the Torah, supplemented by seven mitzvot legislated by the rabbis of antiquity; see Rabbinical commandments.

Categories

Jewish law may be categorized in various ways. Besides the basic categories applied to the mitzvot in antiquity, during the medieval period Jewish law was classified by such works as Maimonides' Mishneh Torah and Joseph Karo's Shulchan Aruch.

Classical Rabbinic Judaism has two basic categories of laws:

Laws believed revealed by God to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai (e.g. the written Pentateuch and elucidations therefrom, Halacha l'Moshe miSinai);

Laws of human origin including Rabbinic decrees, interpretations, customs, etc.

This division between revealed and rabbinic commandments (mitzvot) may influence the importance of a rule, its enforcement and the nature of its ongoing interpretation. Halakhic authorities may disagree on which laws fall into which categories or the circumstances (if any) under which prior Rabbinic rulings can be re-examined by contemporary rabbis, but all halakhic Jews hold that both categories exist and that the first category is immutable, with exceptions only for life-saving and similar emergency circumstances.

A second classical distinction is between the Written Torah (laws written in the Hebrew Bible, specifically its first five books), and Oral Law, laws believed transmitted orally prior to compilation in texts such as the Mishnah, Talmud, and Rabbinic codes.

Commandments are divided into positive and negative commands, which are treated differently in terms of Divine and human punishment. Positive commandments (of which tradition holds there are 248) require an action to be performed, and thus bring one closer to God. Negative commandments (traditionally 365 in number) forbid a specific action; thus violations create a distance from God. In striving to "be holy" as God is holy, one attempts so far as possible to live in accordance with God's wishes for humanity, striving to more completely live with each of these with every moment of one's life.

A further division is made between chukim ("decrees" — laws without obvious explanation, such as shatnez, the law prohibiting wearing clothing made of mixtures of linen and wool), mishpatim ("judgments" — laws with obvious social implications) and eduyot ("testimonies" or "commemorations", such as the Shabbat and holidays). Through the ages, various rabbinical authorities have classified the commandments in various other ways.

A different approach divides the laws into a different set of categories:

Laws in relation to God (bein adam la-Makom), and

Laws about relations with other people (bein adam la-chavero).

There is a notion in halakha that violations of the latter are more severe, in certain ways, because of the requirement one must obtain forgiveness both from the offended person and from God in the latter case.

As a practical matter, the mitzvot also may be classified in line with how they might be implemented after the destruction of the Temple. Some mitzvot are relevant only in the Land of Israel. Many laws pertaining to holiness and purity can no longer be performed, absent the holy Sanctuary in Jerusalem. Some laws require a kind of beit din (Jewish court) that no longer exists.

Within Talmudic literature, Jewish law is divided into the six orders of the Mishnah, which are categories by proximate subject matter: Zeraim ("Seeds") for agricultural laws and prayer, Moed ("Festival"), for the Sabbath and the Festivals, Nashim ("Women"), dealing primarily with marriage and divorce, Nezikin ("Damages"), for civil and criminal law, Kodashim ("Holy things"), for sacrifices and the dietary laws, and Tohorot ("Purities") for ritual purity. However, Talmudic texts often deal with laws outside these apparent subject categories. As a result, Jewish law came to be categorized in other ways in the post-Talmudic period.

In the major codes of Jewish law, two other main categorization schemes are found. Maimonides' Mishneh Torah divides the laws into fourteen sections. The codification efforts that culminated in the Shulchan Aruch divide the law into four sections.

Sin

Judaism regards the violation of the commandments, the mitzvot, to be a sin. The term "sin" is theologically loaded, as it means different things to Jews and Christians. In Christianity a "sin" is usually defined as an offense against God, by which one is separated from God's grace, and for which one would suffer punishment, unless one repents (see Sin for a more complete comparison of sin from several viewpoints). Judaism has a wider definition of the term "sin", and also uses it to include violations of Jewish law that are not necessarily a lapse in morality. Further, Judaism holds it as given that all people sin at various points in their lives, and hold that God always tempers justice with mercy.

The generic Hebrew word for any kind of sin is aveira ("transgression"). Based on the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) Judaism describes three levels of sin:

Pesha — an "intentional sin"; an action committed in deliberate defiance of God

Avon — a "sin of lust or uncontrollable emotion". It is a sin done knowingly, but not done to defy God

Chet — an "unintentional sin"

Judaism understands that the vast majority of people, aside from those who are termed Tzadikim (the righteous), will succumb to sin in their lives. However, a state of sin does not condemn a person to damnation; there is always a road of teshuva (repentance, literally: "return"). There are some classes of people for whom this is exceedingly difficult, such as those who commit adultery, as well as those who slander others.

In earlier days, when Jews had a functioning court system (the beth din and the Sanhedrin high court), courts were empowered to administer physical punishments for various violations, upon conviction by far stricter standards of evidence than are acceptable in American courts: corporal punishment, incarceration, excommunication. Since the fall of the Temple, executions have been forbidden. Since the fall of the autonomous Jewish communities of Europe, the other punishments have also fallen by the wayside.

Today, then, one's accounts are reckoned solely by God. The Talmud says that although courts capable of executing sinners no longer exist, the prescribed penalties continue to be applied by Providence. For instance, someone who has a committed a sin punishable by stoning might fall off a roof, or someone who ought to be executed by strangulation might drown.

Gentiles and Jewish law

Judaism has always held that gentiles are obliged only to follow the seven Noahide Laws; these are laws that the Oral Law derives from the covenant God made with Noah after the flood, which apply to all descendants of Noah (all living people). The Noahide laws are derived in the Talmud (Tractate Sanhedrin 57a), and are listed here:

#Murder is forbidden. #Theft is forbidden. #Sexual immorality is forbidden. #Eating flesh cut from a still-living animal is forbidden. #Belief in and worship of, or prayer to, "idols" is forbidden. #Blaspheming against God is forbidden. #Society must establish a fair system of legal justice to administer law honestly.

The details of these laws are codified from the Talmudic texts in the Mishneh Torah. They can be found mainly in chapter 9 and 10 of Hilkhoth Melakhim u'Milhamothehem in Sefer Shoftim of the Mishneh Torah.

Recently, portions of these laws were codified in a book called The Divine Code. Another volume is still in the works. These laws are scattered all over the Torah and Talmud and are being compiled into these books and is considered to be the equivalent to the Shulchan Aruch/Jewish Codified laws for the non-Jews.

Sources and process

The boundaries of Jewish law are determined through the halakhic process, a religious-ethical system of legal reasoning. Rabbis generally base their opinions on the primary sources of Halakha as well as on precedent set by previous rabbinic opinions. The major sources and genre of Halakha consulted include:

* The foundational Talmudic literature (especially the Mishna and the Babylonian Talmud) with commentaries;

The post-Talmudic codificatory literature, such as Maimonides' Mishneh Torah and the Shulchan Aruch with commentaries;

Regulations and other "legislative" enactments promulgated by rabbis and communal bodies:

* Gezeirah: "preventative legislation" of the Rabbis, intended to prevent violations of the commandments

* Takkanah: "positive legislation", practices instituted by the Rabbis not based (directly) on the commandments

Minhag: Customs, community practices, and customary law, as well as the exemplary deeds of prominent (or local) rabbis;

The she'eloth u-teshuvoth (responsa, literally "questions and answers") literature.

Dina d'malchuta dina ("the law of the land is law"): an additional aspect of Halakha, being the principle recognizing non-Jewish laws and non-Jewish legal jurisdiction as binding on Jewish citizens, provided that they are not contrary to any laws of Judaism. This principle applies primarily in areas of commercial, civil and criminal law.

In antiquity, the Sanhedrin functioned essentially as the Supreme Court and legislature for Judaism, and had the power to administer binding law, including both received law and its own Rabbinic decrees, on all Jews — rulings of the Sanhedrin became Halakha; see Oral law. That court ceased to function in its full mode in CE 40. Today, the authoritative application of Jewish law is left to the local rabbi, and the local rabbinical courts, with only local applicability. In branches of Judaism that follow halakha, lay individuals make numerous ad-hoc decisions, but are regarded as not having authority to decide definitively.

Since the days of the Sanhedrin, however, no body or authority has been generally regarded as having the authority to create universally recognized precedents. As a result, Halakha has developed in a somewhat different fashion from Anglo-American legal systems with a Supreme Court able to provide universally accepted precedents. Generally, contemporary halakhic arguments are effectively, yet unofficially, peer-reviewed. When a rabbinic posek ("decisor") proposes a new interpretation of a law, that interpretation may be considered binding for the posek's questioner or immediate community. Depending on the stature of the posek and the quality of the decision, an interpretation may also be gradually accepted by rabbis and members of similar Jewish communities.

Under this system, there is a tension between the relevance of earlier and later authorities in constraining halakhic interpretation and innovation. On the one hand, there is a principle in Halakha not to overrule a specific law from an earlier era, after it got accepted by the community as a law or vow. On the other hand, another principle recognizes the responsibility and authority of later authorities, and especially the posek handling a concurrent question. In addition, the Halakha embodies a wide range of principles that permit judicial discretion and deviation (Ben-Menahem). Generally speaking, a rabbi in any one period will not overrule specific laws from an earlier era, unless supported by a relevant earlier precedent; see list below. There are important exceptions to this principle, which empower the posek (decisor) or beth din (court) responsible for a given opinion.

Notwithstanding the potential for innovation, rabbis and Jewish communities differ greatly on how they make changes in Halakha. Notably, poskim frequently extend the application of a law to new situations, but do not consider such applications as constituting a "change" in Halakha. For example, many Orthodox rulings concerning electricity are derived from rulings concerning fire, due to its physical similarity with that other form of human-managed energy. In contrast, Conservative Poskim emphasize that electricity is physically and chemically more like turning on a water tap (which is permissible) than lighting a fire (which is not permissible) and therefore permitted its use on Shabbat. The reformative Conservative Judaism, in some cases, will also explicitly interpret Halakha to take into account its view of contemporary sociological factors. For instance, most Conservative rabbis extend the application of certain Jewish obligations and permissible activities to women. See below: How Halakha is viewed today.

Within certain Jewish communities, formal organized bodies do exist. Within Modern Orthodox Judaism, there is no one committee or leader, but Modern Orthodox rabbis generally agree with the views set by consensus by the leaders of the Rabbinical Council of America. Within Conservative Judaism, the Rabbinical Assembly has an official Committee on Jewish Law and Standards.

Takkanot

Traditional Jewish law granted the Sages wide legislative powers. Technically, one may discern two powerful legal tools within the halakhic system:

* Gezeirah: "preventative legislation" of the Rabbis, intended to prevent violations of the commandments

Takkanah: "positive legislation", practices instituted by the Rabbis not based (directly) on the commandments

However, in common parlance sometimes people use the general term takkanah to refer either gezeirot or takkanot.

Takkanot, in general, do not affect or restrict observance of Torah mitzvot. However, the Talmud states that in exceptional cases, the Sages had the authority to "uproot matters from the Torah" in certain cases. In Talmudic and classical halakhic literature, this authority refers to the authority to prohibit some things that would otherwise be biblically sanctioned (shev v'al ta'aseh). Rabbis may rule that a Torah mitzvah should not be performed, e.g. blowing the shofar on Shabbat, or taking the lulav and etrog on Shabbat. These takkanot are executed out of fear that some might otherwise carry the mentioned items between home and the synagogue, thus inadvertently violating a Sabbath melakha.

Another rare and limited form of takkanah involved overriding Torah prohibitions. In some cases, the Sages allowed the temporary violation of a prohibition in order to maintain the Jewish system as a whole. This was part of the basis for Esther's relationship with Ahasuerus. (Sanhedrin)

For general usage of takkanaot in Jewish history see the article Takkanah. For examples of this being used in Conservative Judaism see Conservative Halakha.

Eras of history important in Jewish law

* The Tannaim (literally the "repeaters") are the sages of the Mishnah (0–200)

The Amoraim (literally the "sayers") are the sages of the Gemara (200–500)

The Savoraim (literally the "reasoners") are the classical Persian rabbis (500–650)

The Geonim (literally the "prides" or "geniuses") are the rabbis of Sura and Pumbeditha, in Babylonia (650–1038)

The Rishonim (literally the "firsts") are the rabbis of the early medieval period (circa 1000–1500) preceding the Shulchan Aruch

The Acharonim (literally the "lasts") are the rabbis from roughly 1500 to the present.

Rules by which early Jewish law was derived

Hermeneutics is the study of rules for the exact determination of the meaning of a text; it played a notable role in early rabbinic Jewish discussion. The sages investigated the rules by which the requirements of the oral law were derived from and established by the written law, i.e. the Torah. These rules relate to:

*grammar and exegesis

the interpretation of certain words and letters and superfluous words, prefixes, and suffixes in general

the interpretation of those letters, which, in certain words, are provided with points

the interpretation of the letters in a word according to their numerical value

the interpretation of a word by dividing it into two or more words

the interpretation of a word according to its consonantal form or according to its vocalization

the interpretation of a word by transposing its letters or by changing its vowels

the logical deduction of a halakah from a Scriptural text or from another law

Compilations of such hermeneutic rules were made in the earliest times. The tannaitic tradition recognizes three such collections, namely:

*the seven Rules of Hillel (baraita at the beginning of Sifra; Ab. R. N. xxxvii.)

the thirteen Rules of R. Ishmael (baraita at the beginning of Sifra; this collection is merely an amplification of that of Hillel)

the thirty-two Rules of R. Eliezer b. Jose ha-Gelili.

The last-mentioned rules are contained in an independent baraita, which has been incorporated and preserved only in later works. They are intended for haggadic interpretation; but many of them are valid for the Halakah as well, coinciding with the rules of Hillel and Ishmael.

Neither Hillel, Ishmael, nor Eliezer ben Jose ha-Gelili sought to give a complete enumeration of the rules of interpretation current in his day, but they omitted from their collections many rules that were then followed. They restricted themselves to a compilation of the principal methods of logical deduction, which they called "middot" (measures), although the other rules also were known by that term (comp. Midrash Sifre, Numbers 2 [ed. Friedmann, p. 2a]).

One of these set of rules is found in the siddur, from the "Introduction to Sifra" by Ishmael ben Elisha, c. 200 CE. These are known as the thirteen rules of exegesis.

*Kal va-Chomer (a fortiori): We find a similar stringency in a more lenient case; how more so should that stringency apply to our stricter case!

Gezera shava, similarity in phrase: We find a similar law in a verse containing a similar phrase to one in our verse. This method can only be used in a case where there is a tradition to use it.

Binyan av, either by one or two Scriptures: We find a similar law in another case, why shouldn't we assume that the same law applies here? Now the argument may go against this inference, finding some law that applies to that case but not to ours. This type of refutation is valid only if the inference was from one Scripture, not if it was from two Scriptures.

Klal ufrat, a generality and a particularity: If we find a phrase signifying a particularity following that of a generality, the particularity particularises the generality and we only take that particular case into account.

Prat ukhlal, a particularity and a generality: If the order is first the particularity and then the generality, we add from the generality upon the particularity, even to a broad extent.

Klal ufrat ukhlal, a generality, a particularity and a generality: If there is a particularity inserted between two generalities, we only add cases similar to the particularity.

Klal shehu tzarich lifrat, a generality that requires a particularity, and a particularity that requires a generality: If it is impossible to have the more general law without more specific examples or more specific cases without the statement of the general law, the above three rules don't apply.

Every thing that was within the general rule and was excluded from the rule to teach us a rule, we don't consider this rule as pertaining only to this excluded case, but to the entire general case.

Anything that was included in a general rule, and was excluded to be susceptible to one rule that is according to its subject, it is only excluded to be treated more leniently but not more strictly.

Anything that was included in a general rule and was excluded to be susceptible to one rule that is not according to its subject, it is excluded to be treated both more leniently and more strictly.

Anything that was included in a general rule and was excluded to be treated by a new rule, we cannot restore it to its general rule unless Scripture restores it explicitly.

A matter that is inferred from its context, and a matter that is inferred from its ending.

The resolution of two Scriptures that contradict each other [must wait] until a third Scripture arrives and resolves their apparent contradiction.

Historical analysis of rules

The antiquity of the rules can be determined only by the dates of the authorities who quote them; in general, they can not safely be declared older than the tanna to whom they are first ascribed. It is certain, however, that the seven middot of Hillel and the thirteen of Ishmael are earlier than the time of Hillel himself, who was the first to transmit them.

The Talmud itself gives no information concerning the origin of the middot, although the Geonim regarded them as Sinaitic. Modern historians believe that it is decidedly erroneous to consider the middot as traditional from the time of Moses on Sinai.

The middot seem to have been first laid down as abstract rules by the teachers of Hillel, though they were not immediately recognized by all as valid and binding. Different schools interpreted and modified them, restricted or expanded them, in various ways. Akiba and Ishmael and their scholars especially contributed to the development or establishment of these rules. Akiba devoted his attention particularly to the grammatical and exegetical rules, while Ishmael developed the logical. The rules laid down by one school were frequently rejected by another because the principles that guided them in their respective formulations were essentially different. According to Akiba, the divine language of the Torah is distinguished from the speech of men by the fact that in the former no word or sound is superfluous.

Some scholars have observed a similarity between these rabbinic rules of interpretation and the hermeneutics of ancient Hellenistic culture. For example, Saul Lieberman argues that the *names* (e.g. kal vahomer) of Rabbi Ishmael's middot are Hebrew translations of Greek terms, although the methods of those middot are not Greek in origin.

Views today

Orthodox Judaism holds that "halakha" is the divine law as laid out in the Torah (Bible), rabbinical laws, rabbinical decrees and customs combined. The rabbis, who made many additions and interpretations of Jewish Law, did so only in accordance with regulations they believe were given for this purpose to Moses on Mount Sinai, see Deuteronomy 17:11. See Orthodox Judaism, Beliefs about Jewish law and tradition.

Conservative Judaism holds that Halakha is normative and binding, and is developed as a partnership between people and God based on Sinaitic Torah. While there are a wide variety of Conservative views, a common belief is that Halakha is, and has always been, an evolving process subject to interpretation by rabbis in every time period. See Conservative Judaism, Beliefs.

Reform Judaism and Reconstructionist Judaism both hold that modern views of how the Torah and rabbinic law developed imply that the body of rabbinic Jewish law is no longer normative (seen as binding) on Jews today. Those in the traditionalist wing of these movements believe that the halakha represents a personal starting-point, holding that each Jew is obligated to interpret the Torah, Talmud and other Jewish works for themselves, and this interpretation will create separate commandments for each person.

Those in the liberal and classical wings of Reform believe that in this day and era most Jewish religious rituals are no longer necessary, and many hold that following most Jewish laws is actually counter-productive. They propose that Judaism has entered a phase of ethical monotheism, and that the laws of Judaism are only remnants of an earlier stage of religious evolution, and need not be followed. This is considered wrong, and even heretical, by Orthodox and Conservative Judaism.

Flexibility

Throughout history, halakha has, within limits, been a flexible system, despite its internal rigidity, addressing issues on the basis of circumstance and precedent. The classical approach has permitted new rulings regarding modern technology. These rulings guide the observant about the proper use of electricity on the Sabbath and holidays within the parameters of halakhah. (Many scholarly tomes have been published and are constantly being reviewed ensuring the maximum coordination between electrical appliances and technology with the needs of the religiously observant Jew, with a great range of opinions.) Often, as to the applicability of the law in any given situation, the proviso is: "consult your local rabbi or posek." Modern critics, however, have charged that with the rise of movements that challenge the "Divine" authority of halakha, traditional Jews have greater reluctance to change, not only the laws themselves but also other customs and habits, than traditional Rabbinical Judaism did prior to the advent of Reform in the 19th century.

Differences between Orthodox and Conservative Judaism

Orthodox Jews maintain Halakha is derived from the divine law of the Torah (Bible), rabbinical laws, rabbinical decrees and customs combined. As such it should be adhered to as an unalterable authority. They also believe there are traditional formulas that date back to Moses on how the divine law may be interpreted - see above, "Rules by which early Jewish law was derived". While Conservative Jews have varied views regarding the origin of the Torah and its authority today, and believe it can be continuously reinterpreted. Their view of Halakha has given rise to substantial differences in approach as well as result.

Orthodox Judaism

Orthodox Jews believe that Halakha is a religious system, whose core represents the revealed will of God. Although Orthodox Judaism acknowledges that rabbis made many decisions and degrees regarding Jewish Law where the written Torah itself is non-specific, they did so only in accordance with regulations given to them by Moses on Mount Sinai (see Deuteronomy 5:8-13). These regulations were transmitted orally until shortly after the destruction of the second temple. They were then recorded in the Mishnah, and explained in the Talmud and commentaries throughout history, including today. Orthodox Judaism believes that subsequent interpretations have been derived with the utmost accuracy and care. The most widely accepted codes of Jewish law are known as Mishneh Torah and the Shulchan Aruch. No rabbi has the right to change Jewish law unless they clearly understand how it coincides with the precepts of the Talmud and later codes of Jewish law. Later commentaries were accepted by many rabbis as final rule, however, other rabbis may disagree.

Orthodox Judaism has a range of opinions on the circumstances and extent to which change is permissible. Haredi Jews generally hold that even minhagim (customs) must be retained and existing precedents cannot be reconsidered. Modern Orthodox authorities are generally more inclined to permit limited changes in customs, and some reconsideration of precedent. All Orthodox authorities, however, agree that only later Rabbinical interpretations are subject to reconsideration, and hold that core sources of Divine written and oral law, such as the Torah the Mishnah and the Talmud, cannot be overridden.

Conservative Judaism

The view held by Conservative Judaism is that while God is real, the Torah is not the word of God in a literal sense. However, in this view the Torah is still held as mankind's record of its understanding of God's revelation, and thus still has divine authority. In this view, traditional Jewish law is still seen as binding. Jews who hold by this view generally try to use modern methods of historical study to learn how Jewish law has changed over time, and are in some cases more willing to change Jewish law in the present.

A key practical difference between Conservative and Orthodox approaches is that Conservative Judaism holds that its Rabbinical body's powers are not limited to reconsidering later precedents based on earlier sources, but the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards (CJLS) is empowered to override Biblical and Taanitic prohibitions by takkanah (decree) when perceived to be inconsistent with modern requirements and/or views of ethics. The CJLS has used this power on a number of occasions, most famously in the "driving teshuva", which says that if someone is unable to walk to any synagogue on the Sabbath, and their commitment to observance is so loose that not attending synagogue may lead them to drop it altogether, their rabbi may give them a dispensation to drive there and back; and more recently in its decision prohibiting the taking of evidence on Mamzer status on the grounds that implementing such a status is immoral. The CJLS has also held that the Talmudic concept of Kavod HaBriyot permits lifting rabbinic decrees (as distinct from carving narrow exceptions) on grounds of human dignity, and used this principle in a December 2006 opinion lifting all rabbinic prohibitions on homosexual conduct (the opinion held that only male-male anal sex was forbidden by the Bible and that this remained prohibited). Conservative Judaism also made a number of changes to the role of women in Judaism, including counting women in the minyan and ordaining women as rabbis. The latter was accomplished by simple vote on the faculty of the JTS. Orthodox Judaism holds that takkanot (Rabbinical decrees) can only supplement and can never nullify Biblical law, and significant decisions must be accompanied by scholarly responsa citing sources and halakhic precedent.

An example of how different views of the origin of Jewish law inform Conservative approaches to interpreting that law involves the CJLS's acceptance of Rabbi Elie Kaplan Spitz's responsum decreeing the Biblical category of mamzer as "inoperative", in which The CJLS adopted the Responsum's view that of how, in the Conservative view of Halakha, the "morality which we learn through the unfolding narrative of our tradition" informs the application of Mosaic law:

The responsum cited several examples of how, in Spitz's view, the Rabbinic Sages declined to enforce punishments explicitly mandated by Torah law. The examples include the "trial of the accused adulteress (Sotah)", the "Law of the Breaking of the Neck of the Heifer" and the application of the death penalty for the "rebellious child". Spitz argues that the punishment of the Mamzer has been effectively inoperative for nearly two thousand years due to deliberate rabbinic inaction (with a few rule-proving counterexamples, including the 18th century Orthodox rabbi Ismael ha-Kohen of Modena, who decreed that a child should have the word "mamzer" tattoed to his forehead). Further he suggested that the Rabbis have long regarded the punishment declared by the Torah as immoral, and came to the conclusion that no court should agree to hear testimony on "mamzerut". His motion was passed by the CJLS.

The decision represented a watershed for Conservative Judaism because it represented an explicit abrogation of a Biblical injunction on the grounds of contemporary morality, as distinct from exigency. The dissenters, who included Rabbi Joel Roth as well as a partial concurrence by Rabbi Daniel Nevins, argued for reaffirming the classical halakhic framework in which human decrees inform and often limit but never wholly abrogate law believed to be of Divine origin, stating that "we should acknowledge that God's law is beyond our authority to eliminate", but should continue the traditional approach of applying strict evidentiary rules and presumptions that tend to render enforcement unlikely. He also argued that the current framework is moral, both because proving mamzer status sufficiently beyond all doubt is already so difficult that it is rare, and because the mere existence and possibility of mamzerut status, even if rarely enforced, creates an important incentive for divorcing parties to obtain a get (Jewish religious divorce) to avoid the sin of adultery. He cited a responsum by prominent Haredi Orthodox Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef as an example of how the traditional approach works. Rabbi Yosef was faced with the child of a woman who had left a religious marriage without religious divorce and had a child in the second marriage, seemingly an open-and-shut case of Mamzer status. Rabbi Yosef proceeded to systematically discredit the evidence that the former marriage had ever taken place. The Ketubah was mysteriously not found and hence disqualified, and the officiating Rabbi's testimony was never sufficiently corroborated and hence not credible. Rabbi Yosef then found reason to doubt that the new husband was ever the father, finding that because the ex-husband occasionally delivered alimony personally, an ancient presumption (one of many) that any time a husband and wife are alone together the law presumes intercourse has taken place governed the case. He held that Jewish law could not disprove, and hence had to conclude, that the original husband really was the child's father and there was no case of Mamzer status.

Codes of Jewish law

The Torah and the Talmud are not formal codes of law: they are sources of law. There are many formal codes of Jewish law that have developed over the past two thousand years. These codes have influenced, and in turn, have been influenced by, the responsa; History of Responsa thus provides an informative complement to the survey below.

The major codes are:

* The Mishnah, composed by Rabbi Judah the Prince, in 200 CE, as a basic outline of the state of the Oral Law in his time. This was the framework upon which the Talmud was based; the Talmud's dialectic analysis of the content of the Mishna (gemara; completed c. 500) became the basis for all later halakhic decisions and subsequent codes.

* Codifications by the Geonim of the halakhic material in the Talmud. An early work, She'iltot ("Questions") by Achai of Shabcha (c. 752), discusses over 190 Mitzvot — exploring and addressing various questions on these. The first legal codex proper, Halakhot Pesukot ("Decided Laws"), by Yehudai Gaon (c. 760), rearranges the Talmud passages in a structure manageable to the layman. (It was written in vernacular Aramaic, and subsequently translated into Hebrew as Hilkhot Riu). Halakhot Gedolot ("Great Law Book"), by R. Simeon Kayyara, published two generations later, contains extensive additional material, mainly from Responsa and Monographs of the Geonim, and is presented in a form that is closer to the original Talmud language and structure. (Probably since it was distributed, also, amongst the newly established Ashkenazi communities.) The She'iltot was influential on both subsequent works.

* The Hilchot of the Rif, Rabbi Isaac Alfasi (1013–1103), summations of the legal material in the Talmud. Alfasi transcribed the Talmud's halakhic conclusions verbatim, without the surrounding deliberation; he also excludes all Aggadic (non-legal, homiletic) matter. The Hilchot soon superseded the geonic codes, as it contained all the decisions and laws then relevant, and additionally, served as an accessible Talmudic commentary; it has been printed with almost every subsequent edition of the Talmud.

* The Mishneh Torah (also known as the Yad Ha-Hazaqah for its 14 volumes; "yad" has a numeric value of 14), by Maimonides (Rambam; 1135–1204). This work encompasses the full range of Talmudic law; it is organized and reformulated in a logical system — in 14 books, 83 sections and 1000 chapters — with each Halakha stated clearly. The Mishneh Torah is very influential to this day, and several later works reproduce passages verbatim. It also includes a section on Metaphysics and fundamental beliefs. (Some claim this section draws heavily on Aristotelian science and metaphysics; others suggest that it is within the tradition of Saadia Gaon.) It is the main source of practical Halakha for many Yemenite Jews — mainly Baladi and Dor Daim — as well as for a growing community referred to as talmidei haRambam.

* The work of the Rosh, Rabbi Asher ben Jehiel (1250?/1259?–1328), an abstract of the Talmud, concisely stating the final halakhic decision and quoting later authorities, notably Alfasi, Maimonides, and the Tosafists. This work superseded Rabbi Alfasi's and has been printed with almost every subsequent edition of the Talmud.

* The Sefer Mitzvot Gadol (The "SeMaG") of Rabbi Moses ben Jacob of Coucy (13th century, Coucy, France). "SeMaG" is organised around the 365 negative and the 248 positive commandments, separately discussing each of them according to the Talmud (in light of the commentaries of Rashi and the Tosafot) and the other codes existent at the time.

* "The Mordechai" — by Mordecai ben Hillel, d. Nuremberg 1298 — serves both as a source of analysis, as well of decided law. Mordechai considered about 350 halakhic authorities, and was widely influential, particularly amongst the Ashkenazi and Italian communities. Although organised around the Hilchot of the Rif, it is, in fact, an independent work. It has been printed with every edition of the Talmud since 1482.

* The Arba'ah Turim (The Tur, The Four Columns) by Rabbi Jacob ben Asher (1270–1343, Toledo, Spain). This work traces the Halakha from the Torah text and the Talmud through the Rishonim, with the Hilchot of Alfasi as its starting point. Ben Asher followed Maimonides's precedent in arranging his work in a topical order, however, the Tur covers only those areas of Jewish religious law that were in force in the author's time. The code is divided into four main sections; almost all codes since this time have followed the Tur's arrangement of material.

* Orach Chayim: "The Way of Life" worship and ritual observance in the home and synagogue, through the course of the day, the weekly sabbath and the festival cycle.

* Yoreh De'ah: "Teach Knowledge" assorted ritual prohibitions, dietary laws and regulations concerning menstrual impurity.

* Even Ha'ezer: "The Rock of the Helpmate" marriage, divorce and other issues in family law.

* Choshen Mishpat: "The Breastplate of Judgment" The administration and adjudication of civil law.

*The Beit Yosef, and the Shulchan Aruch of Rabbi Yosef Karo (1488–1575). The Beit Yosef is a huge commentary on the Tur in which Rabbi Karo traces the development of each law from the Talmud through later rabbinical literature (examining thirty-two authorities, beginning with the Talmud and ending with the works of Rabbi Israel Isserlein). The Shulchan Aruch is, in turn, a condensation of the Beit Yosef — stating each ruling simply (literally translated, Shulchan Aruch means "set table"); this work follows the chapter divisions of the Tur. The Shulchan Aruch, together with its related commentaries, is considered by many to be the most authoritative compilation of halakha since the Talmud. In writing the Shulchan Aruch, Rabbi Karo based his rulings on three authorities — Maimonides (Rambam), Asher ben Jehiel (Rosh), and Isaac Alfasi (Rif); he considered the Mordechai in inconclusive cases. Sephardic Jews, generally, refer to the Shulchan Aruch as the basis for their daily practice.

*The works of Rabbi Moshe Isserles ("Rema"; Kraków, Poland, 1525 to 1572). Rema noted that the Shulchan Aruch was based on the Sephardic tradition, and he created a series of glosses to be appended to the text of the Shulkhan Aruch for cases where Sephardi and Ashkenazi customs differed (based on the works of Yaakov Moelin, Israel Isserlein and Israel Bruna). The glosses are called Hamapah, the "Tablecloth" for the "Set Table". His comments are now incorporated into the body of all printed editions of the Shulchan Aruch, typeset in a different script; today, "Shulchan Aruch" refers to the combined work of Karo and Isserles. Isserles' Darkhei Moshe is similarly a commentary on the Tur and the Beit Yosef.

* The Levush Malkhut ("Levush") of Rabbi Mordecai Yoffe (c. 1530-1612). A ten volume work, five discussing Halakha at a level "midway between the two extremes: the lengthy Beit Yosef of Caro on the one hand, and on the other Caro's Shulchan Aruch together with the Mappah of Isserles, which is too brief", that particularly stresses the customs and practices of the Jews of Eastern Europe. The Levush was exceptional among the codes, in that it treated certain Halakhot from a Kabbalistic standpoint.

* The Shulchan Aruch HaRav of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (c. 1800) was an attempt to recodify the law as it stood at that time — incorporating commentaries on the Shulchan Aruch, and subsequent responsa — and thus stating the decided halakha, as well as the underlying reasoning. The work was written, partly, so that laymen would be able to study Jewish law. Unfortunately, most of the work was lost in a fire prior to publication. It is the basis of practice for Chabad-Lubavitch and other Hasidic groups, and is quoted as authoritative by many subsequent works, Hasidic and non-Hasidic alike.

* "Layman oriented" digests of Halakha. The Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rabbi Shlomo Ganzfried (Hungary 1804–1886), based on the very strict Hungarian customs of the 19th century, became immensely popular after its publication due to its simplicity. This work is not binding in the same way as the Mishneh Torah or the Shulchan Aruch. It is still popular in Orthodox Judaism as a framework for study, if not always for practice. Chayei Adam and Chochmat Adam by Avraham Danzig (Poland, 1748–1820) are similar Ashkenazi works, but are regarded as a more appropriate basis for practice. The Ben Ish Chai by Yosef Chaim (Baghdad, 1832–1909) is a corresponding Sephardi work.

* Works structured directly on the Shulchan Aruch, providing analysis in light of Acharonic material and codes. The Mishnah Berurah of Rabbi Yisroel Meir ha-Kohen, (the "Chofetz Chaim", Poland, 1838–1933) is a commentary on the "Orach Chayim" section of the Shulchan Aruch, discussing the application of each Halakha in light of all subsequent Acharonic decisions. It has become the authoritative halakhic guide for much of Orthodox Ashkenazic Jewry in the postwar period. Aruch HaShulchan by Rabbi Yechiel Michel Epstein (1829–1888) is a scholarly analysis of Halakha through the perspective of the major Rishonim. The work follows the structure of the Tur and the Shulchan Aruch; rules dealing with vows, agriculture, and ritual purity, are discussed in a second work known as Aruch HaShulchan he'Atid. Kaf HaChaim on Orach Chayim and parts of Yoreh De'ah, by the Sephardi sage Yaakov Chaim Sofer (Baghdad and Jerusalem, 1870–1939) is similar in scope, authority and approach to the Mishnah Berurah. Yalkut Yosef, by Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, is a voluminous, widely cited and contemporary work of Halakha, based on the rulings of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef.

* Temimei Haderech ("A Guide To Jewish Religious Practice") by Rabbi Isaac Klein with contributions from the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards of the Rabbinical Assembly. This scholarly work is based on the previous traditional law codes, but written from a Conservative Jewish point of view. It is not accepted among Orthodox Jews.

See also

Mishpat Ivri

Jewish ethics

Jewish medical ethics

Antinomianism

References

Bibliography

J. David Bleich, Contemporary Halakhic Problems (5 vols), Ktav. ISBN 0-87068-450-7, ISBN 0-88125-474-6, ISBN 0-88125-315-4, ISBN 0-87068-275-X, Feldheim ISBN 1-56871-353-3

Menachem Elon, Ha-Mishpat ha-Ivri (trans. Jewish Law: History, Sources, Principles ISBN 0-8276-0389-4), Jewish Publication Society. ISBN 0-8276-0537-4

Jacob Katz, Divine Law in Human Hands — Case Studies in Halakhic Flexibility, Magnes Press. ISBN 965-223-980-1

Mendell Lewittes, Jewish Law: An Introduction, Jason Aronson. ISBN 1-56821-302-6

Daniel Pollack ed., Contrasts in American and Jewish Law, Ktav. ISBN 0-88125-750-8

Emanuel Quint, A Restatement of Rabbinic Civil Law (11 vols), Gefen Publishing. ISBN 0-87668-765-6, ISBN 0-87668-799-0, ISBN 0-87668-678-1, ISBN 0-87668-396-0, ISBN 0-87668-197-6, ISBN 1-56821-167-8, ISBN 1-56821-319-0, ISBN 1-56821-907-5, ISBN 0-7657-9969-3, ISBN 965-229-322-9, ISBN 965-229-323-7, ISBN 965-229-375-X

Emanuel Quint, Jewish Jurisprudence: Its Sources & Modern Applications , Taylor and Francis. ISBN 3-7186-0293-8

Joel Roth, Halakhic Process: A Systemic Analysis, Jewish Theological Seminary. ISBN 0-87334-035-3

Joseph Soloveitchik, Halakhic Man, Jewish Publication Society trans. Lawrence Kaplan. ISBN 0-8276-0397-5

David, Joseph E., "Beyond the Janus Face of Zionist Legalism: The Theo-Political Conditions of the Jewish Law Project" Ratio Juris, Vol. 18, No. 2, pp. 206–35, June 2005. http://ssrn.com/abstract=729044

Kosman, Admiel: “Right and good” – On Halakha and Meta-Halakha and the actual meaning of these terms today. "And thou shalt do that which is right and good" (Deuteronomy 6:18)

External links

Full-text resources of major halakhic works

Mishneh Torah:

*Hebrew: mechon-mamre.org; wikisource

*Translation: chabad.org; mechon-mamre.org (incomplete)

*Arba'ah Turim:

*Hebrew: wikisource

Shulchan Aruch:

*Hebrew: chassidus.org (archived); wikisource

*Translation: ; shulchanarach.com

*Shulchan Aruch HaRav:

*Hebrew: wikisource; chabadlibrary.org

*Aruch HaShulchan:

*Hebrew: wikisource

*Kitzur Shulchan Aruch:

* Hebrew: www.kitzur.net; shofar.net; wikisource

*Translation: torah.org (organised thematically); Yona Newman

*Ben Ish Chai:

* Hebrew: wikisource; shechem.org

*Kaf haChaim:

* Hebrew: hebrewbooks.org (volume 1; others available via search on site)

* Mishnah Berurah:

* Hebrew: wikisource; mishnaberura.com (With .mp3 and .wma files); hebrewbooks.org

*Translation: torah.org

*A Guide to Jewish Religious Practice

*jtsa.edu (archived)

Category:Hebrew words and phrases Category:Orthodox Judaism Category:Legal codes

Name	Rola Saad
Background	solo_singer
Origin	Kelbata, Lebanon
Genre	Arabic pop music
Occupation	Singer, model,
Years active	2000s — present (Singer)

Rola Youssef Saad ( is a Lebanese pop singer and model who emerged in the mid 2000s and is most commonly known for her public feud & rivalry with fellow Lebanese singer Haifa Wehbe and her collaboration with Lebanese singing Legend Sabah.

Biography

Rola Youssef Saad was born in Kelbata Lebanon to a Christian Maronite family and became an orphan as a child. Growing up Rola Saad said she always felt unlucky. Her chance to fame came when her vocal abilities was recognized.

She entered show business first as a model and later alongside the classical singer Sabah, in a remake of her song “Yana Yana”. The song became a hit in 2006, topping charts and achieved huge sales and its music video was aired on all music channels across Arab countries. Rola's latest video clip was inspired from her own suffering as orphan. The clip is about a star who has adopted an African boy from an orphanage and tried to change his former lonely days to a sweet lifetime.

Rola Saad is living in the south of Lebanon.

References

Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:Lebanese singers Category:Lebanese female singers Category:Lebanese Maronites Category:Rotana artists

Name	Richie Ray
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Ricardo Maldonado
Alias	El Embajador del Piano (The Piano Ambassador)
Born	February 15, 1945
Origin	Brooklyn, New York, United States
Genre	Salsa
Occupation	Singer Pianist Music arranger Composer Religious minister
Years active	1965–present

Ricardo "Richie" Ray (born February 15, 1945) is a virtuoso pianist, singer, music arranger, composer and religious minister known for his success beginning in 1965 as part of the duo Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz. He is known as "El Embajador del Piano" (The Piano Ambassador).

Early life

Ray (born "Ricardo Maldonado") was born in Brooklyn, New York City of Puerto Rican parents. They lived in Hoyt Street. Ray's father, Pacifico Maldonado, was an accomplished guitarist in his native Bayamón, and as such was the Maldonado family's early musical influence.

Ray's parents had him take lessons and he started to play the piano when he was only seven years old. His life-long partnership with Bobby Cruz started five years later in 1957 when Ray played bass in a group led by Cruz. This combination was the beginning of one the greatest salsa duos in the salsa music industry.

He attended the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, the famed High School of Performing Arts, and the Juilliard School of Music. This experience served to further develop and refine his musical training. In addition, he became well versed in various Latin music genres which were popular at that time the Guajira, the Cha-cha-cha, the Bolero and others. Prior to the presentation, the duo noted that the concert would last at least three hours. The duo has expressed that this might be their last "big scale concert".

Selected discography

{{ external media | align = center | audio1 = You may listen to Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz's "Mr Trumpet Man" here }} {| class="wikitable" |- ! Fonseca Records ! Alegre Records ! 'United Artists |- align="center" | Ricardo Ray Arrives - Comején 1964 | Se Soltó (On the Loose) 1966 | El Diferente 1969 |- align="center" | On the Scene 1965 | Jala Jala y Boogaloo 1967 | Viva Ricardo 1969 |- align="center" | 3 Dimensions 1966 | Jala Jala y Boogaloo Vol. 2 1968 |   |- align="center" | Richie Ray Introducing
Bobby Cruz A-Go-Go 1966 | Los Durísimos/The Strong Ones 1968 |   |- align="center" | En Fiesta Navideña 1966 | Let's Get Down to the Real Nitty Gritty 1968 |   |- align="center" |   | Los Durísimos y Yo (Nidya Caro) 1969 |   |- align="center" |   | Aguzate 1970 |   |- ! Vaya Records ! Ray & Bo Records ! Appearances with Fania All-Stars |- align="center" | El Bestial Sonido 1971 | A su nombre Gloria 1978 | Our Latin Thing 1971
Ahora Vengo Yo |- align="center" | Felices Pascuas 1972 | Renovando la Salsa 1979 | Live at the Red Garter Vol. 1 1972 (1968)
Richies Bag |- align="center" | Jammin' Live 1972 | Abriendo Surcos 1979 | Fania All Stars at the Cheetah Vol. 2 1974 (1971)
Ahora Vengo Yo |- align="center" | Amor en la Escuela 1974 | En Familia 1983 | Live at the Yankee Stadium Vol. 2 1975
Hermandad Fania |- align="center" | 1975 (1974) | Más que Vencedores 1984 | |- align="center" | 10 Aniversario 1975 | Maravilloso 1985 | |- align="center" | Reconstrucción 1976 | Adelante Juventud 1988 | |- align="center" | Viven 1977 | Angie, Mi Piano y Yo 1992 | |- align="center" | El Sonido de la Bestia 1980 | | |- align="center" | Las Águilas/The Eagles 1982 | | |-align="center" ! Los Inconfundibles 1987 ! Releases After the Year 2000 ! |- align="center" | Voz Palabra Y Jubilo 2000
WEA Latina | Lo Nuevo y Lo Mejor 2001
WEA Latina | Caminando 2002
Rejoice Music |- align="center" | Casa De Alabanza Vol 1 2003
(Rejoice Music) WEA Latina | 40 Aniversario En Vivo 2004
Combo Records | Que Vuelva La Música 2005
Tropisounds |- align="center" | A Lifetime of hits (Live at Centro de Bellas Artes de Puerto Rico 2006 |}

See also

List of famous Puerto Ricans

References

External links

Biography at Popular Culture's

Discography

Bobby's Biography

Category:1945 births Category:Living people Category:Puerto Rican singers Category:Puerto Rican musicians Category:Puerto Rican composers Category:Salsa musicians

Nune Yesayan () (born August 5, 1969 in Yerevan, Armenia) commonly known as Nune or Nouné is a popular Armenian pop singer who began singing with an Armenian jazz band in the early 1990s before becoming a lounge singer at resorts in the Middle East. While performing in Damascus, she observed that young Syrians knew the words to old folk songs performed by contemporary singers, which was not true of young Armenians.

Biography

Even before studying music in college, Yesayan made a name for herself at her high school for being a gifted vocalist and talented performer. She graduated from high school in 1986 and was accepted to the Polytechnic University of Yerevan to study engineering.

During her first year in college, Nune excelled in her engineering studies and received high marks in both mathematics and physics. She spent her time away from school performing Armenian folk music with an amateur band. The group, which included long-time friend and collaborator Arthur Hagopian, appeared at small venues and a few concerts.

After successfully completing her first year of course work at the Polytechnic University in 1987, Nune decided to change her major and focus on her passion for music. She applied for admission and was accepted to the Jazz and Pop College of Yerevan, where she began her studies in the Fall of 1988.

Nune's teachers and vocal coaches at the Jazz and Pop College included famed Armenian jazz performer Datevig Hovanissian and Yerevan's most prolific pop producer, composer Arthur Grigorian. In addition to her intense rehearsal and study schedule at the College, Nune performed regularly at Grigorian's Yerevan jazz club, "Azad Jamantz".

Following graduation from the Jazz and Pop College in 1990, Nune auditioned and was accepted into the Armenian National Jazz Orchestra. Under the direction of famed composer and conductor Constantine Orbelian, Nune performed with the Orchestra in Armenia and throughout the former Soviet Union, singing Armenian folk songs and jazz standards.

Nune's first television appearance as a solo act was on the "Ayo" television program, a show similar to "Pop Idol". Nune won the highest possible scores from a panel of judges, retained the title of "top female vocalist" for the entire length of the television season and quickly became a in Armenia.

Similar successes followed in 1990 and 1991, when Nune participated in two more nationally televised talent competition shows. Nune was named "Miss Soul" in 1990 and "Best Female Vocalist" at the Asoop (Comet) Award Show in 1991. Accolades and honors from domestic and international awards shows including the "Armenian Music Awards" in Los Angeles have continued and included honors for best album, best music video, best concert and best female vocalist.

Nune recorded her first album of traditional Armenian songs in 1991. It was produced by Garbis Titizian and Prime Entertainment. Arthur Hagopian, who was part of Nune's first amateur band, arranged the album using modern instruments and contemporary arrangements. The music video for her rendition of the folks song "Kele Lao" was an immediate hit in the Armenia Diaspora and a regular staple of the US-based Armenian television station, Horizon (TV).

In an interview, Nune said "I was jealous" in English in an interview before her concert here, occasionally turning to an interpreter for assistance. "That's when I decided to do something the young people will sing and remember the words. I wanted to work with Armenian folk songs, rearrange them and make them appealing to young people".

In 1991 and 1992, Nune was invited by her former teacher, Arthur Grigorian, to perform in shows he produced. Her appearances on television with Grigorian's group were a hit, and the group's concerts were always sold out.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, harsh economic conditions in Armenia forced Nune to seek employment opportunities abroad. Her ability to sing in many languages and in various styles won her contracts at 5 Star hotels in the Middle East. During her concerts and small-venue shows, Nune sang contemporary hits, pop and jazz standards and songs in English, Arabic, French and Armenian.

Upon her return to Armenia in 1997, Nune partnered again with Prime Entertainment in an effort to distribute her CDs internationally. Executive Producer Garbis Titizian arranged for the release of Nune's first CD and the recording and distribution of her second album, World.

In 1998, Nune formed her own band, which continues to work with her today. Together with her musicians, Nune took her band on the road throughout Armenia, performing benefit concerts for the Armenia Fund, an organization which fund the development of Armenia's infrastructure.

Nune's North American debut took place at the Pasadena Civic Center Auditorium in Southern California. Because of her hit music videos and popular CDs, Nune sold out her first concert in the US and enjoyed unexpected and unprecedented attention during her appearances at Armenian schools and record stores.

Since the release of Kavare Mer and Who Knows in 1998 and 1999, Nune has released one new album each year including World in 2000, Nune in 2001, Love in 2002, Sayat Nova in 2003, Me in 2004 and her International Album of Nune in 2005. Her musical range has expanded from singing traditional Armenian folk songs to include singing new songs written specially for her.

Every one of Nune's concerts in the United States, Canada, England, France, Syria, Lebanon, Greece, Argentina, Australia, Russia and Armenia have sold out weeks in advance. Her concert in honor of those who lost their lives during the terror attacks on September 11, 2001, was attended by nearly eight thousand people and mentioned on the CNN "World Report" and the Mir and Associated Press television news services.

Nune's most notable concert venues have included the Hamaleer Sport Complex in Armenia, the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, the Kodak Theater in Hollywood and the Lincoln Center in New York City. She has also appeared in concert with famed Armenian-Persian singer Andy and French idol Patrick Fiori. Her largest audiences to date was at a charity concert she performed at the Cascade in Yerevan. The open-air concert attracted more than 35,000 fans.

In addition to her charity concerts, Nune has continued to dedicate her time and efforts to helping her homeland and her people. She has appeared as a host and guest of the globally telecast Armenia Fund Telethon in 2000 and 2004 and continues to enjoy press coverage in Armenia, Russia and in Armenian publications throughout the Diaspora.

Even mainstream American media, including the New York Times and Boston Globe, have taken note of her fame and written about her phenomenal fame and status among her people and her impact on the world of Armenian music.

Discography

1991:

1998: Kavare Mer

1999: Who Knows

2000: World

2001: Nune

2002: Love

2003: Sayat Nova (King Of Songs)

2004: Me

2005:

2006: Dle Yaman

Music videos

"Who Knows"

Khkhcha

Mi Bala

"World"

Ari Yar

Inchu Es Kez Sireci

"Me"

Hognel Em

Konn Em

"Nune"

Vooy Nare

Nune

Gheseye Eshgh

Prosto Eto Ya (I'm easy)

"Love"

Romance

"Agha Jan"

Agha Jan

"Dle Yaman"

Miayn Es Ev Du

Nairyan Dalar Bardi

Hasarak Mard

External links

Official Website

Nune Yesayan Music Videos

Category:Armenian singers Category:1969 births Category:Living people Category:People from Yerevan

Name	Najwa Karam
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Najwa Nicola Karam
Born	February 26, 1966 in Zahlé, Lebanon
Origin	Zahlé, Lebanon
Genre	Arabic music
Occupation	singer
Years active	1985 - present
Label	Relax-In (1989–1991) CM (1992–1993) Rotana (1994–)
Url	http://www.najwakaram.com

Najwa Karam (; born 26 February 1966, in Zahle, Lebanon) is a Lebanese singer. Her singing career began in the late 1980s with moderate success, but her major successes began in the mid-1990s.

Najwa Karam is one of the most successful Arab singers—participating in numerous festivals and concerts around the globe, and has received a number of awards from various distinguished bodies. She is also Rotana's highest-paid artist.

The early years and Layali Lubnan: 1966–1988

Najwa Karam Karam was born in Zahlé, Lebanon, to Karam Karam and Barbara Chahine Karam, a family of Lebanese Maronites, she believes in Jesus Christ. She is the youngest of five children, having an older sister, Salwa, and three older brothers, Tony, Jean, and Nicolas. She spent her childhood in Zahlé, in the care of her parents and older brothers. From an early age, Najwa was known among her friends and relatives for her powerful singing voice, but her parents emphasized the need for an education and a stable career over entertaining.

Karam attended secondary school at Jesus the Angel College, and then worked as a teacher for two years at Eastern College, Zahlé.

In 1985, Karam decided to pursue a singing career by participating in the television singing contest Layali Lubnan (Lebanese Nights), although against her father's wishes. Interpreting popular varieties of the traditional Lebanese Mawal in her powerful voice, Najwa walked away with the Gold Medal, public exposure, and her father's approval.

Following this win, Karam studied at the Lebanese Institute of Music for four years to improve her knowledge of music and the music industry in general. She was under the direction of renowned Lebanese composers Zaki Nassif and Fouad Awad. In 1987, Najwa participated in another television program named Laylat Haz, where she was warmly accepted by the audience. By 1989, Najwa had gained the knowledge and experience she needed to make her first attempt at breaking into the Arabic music industry.

The beginning: 1989–1993

"The Sun of Song"

In 1989, Karam's first studio album, Ya Habayeb, was released by a then-little-known record label, Relax-in International. The album contained seven tracks, all in the traditional Lebanese traditional/folkloric style. Due to her previous exposure to the Lebanese public, the album was well-received in Lebanon but did not receive much attention from the rest of the Arab world.

After a three year hiatus from music making, Karam returned to the scene with her follow up album, Shams el-Ghinnieh. The album title was inspired by her nickname, Shams el-Ghinnieh (The sun of song), which was given to her by the Lebanese people and media because of her vocal abilities. The album was recorded by another small record company CM. The style of the album was more romantic and contemporary, in comparison to Najwa's debut, Ya Habayeb, which was more traditional. Shams el-Ghinnieh was received very well by the Lebanese public.

Ana Ma'akon

The next year, 1993, Karam signed on with another record label for her new album. This time it was an even less known Saudi Arn company. The new album was called Ana Ma'akon (I am with you). The album was classic in style and quite different from Shams el-Ghinnieh, not really reflecting Najwa's artistic identity. Despite her personal miscontent, she had no choice but release it, bound by a contract with her production company. As expected, the album failed to do as well as Shams el-Ghinnieh. Poor marketing and lack of resources did not help much either and were blamed for the low sales of the album. It remains Karam's least-known album, although many of her fans consider it the best in terms of showing Najwa's abilities and voice-power. With the failure of Ana Ma'akon, she sought a bigger and more secure record label for her next album.

Domination: 1994–1999

Najwa success

Najwa's fortunes took a turn for the better when she was approached by the Middle East's largest recording label, Rotana, owned by the Saudi Arabian Prince Walid Bin Talel. An agreement between the parties was made, and Najwa was now on Rotana's roster.

Work on a new album began immediately. Expert poets, writers, and composers were enlisted to help Najwa make a fresh new musical image for herself to revitalize public interest, and finally draw attention from the wider Arab audience. By mid-1994, an album consisting of 8 new songs had been compiled and was ready to be released to the Middle East. Naghmet Hob (The Rhythm of Love) fused Lebanese tradition with Arab pop. Its catchy Lebanese dance song Law Habaytek (If I loved you) was an instant hit, introducing Najwa Karam to all of the Middle East. The song and its video clip dominated the Arabian charts. Its follow up hits from the same album were "Wrood Eddar" (Roses of the Garden) and "Elala (la la)," which received similar success.

The wide success of Naghmet Hob fueled a concert tour and a number of awards for Karam, including a prize from the Lebanese Broadcasting Association for the Best Artist of 1994.

Karam had been thrust to the top of the Arabic music scene in less than a year, and was now constantly in the public eye. In 1995, Najwa started work on her second Rotana album, her fifth release in total. It was titled Ma Bassmahlak and closely followed the traditional style of Naghmet Hob. The main difference was the lyrical and vocal nature of the tracks which had more depth. Riding the wave of her celebrity, two of the songs were hits, namely Ma Bassmahlak (I won't allow you) and Hakim el-Qady (The Judge has spoken).

I'm Lucky

With five albums under her belt, the latter two of which witnessed ground breaking success, Najwa was becoming a familiar face in the Arabic music industry. On 16 June 1996, Karam released her newest album entitled Hazi Helo (I'm Lucky). The title track, Hazi Helo, and three other songs, "Khayarouni", "Ala Mahlak" and "El-Ghorbil", were the most popular from the album.

Following the release of Hazi Helo, Najwa set off on a large scale world concert tour, which would take in many Arab states, parts of Europe, and America. She found a number of fans in the U.S., and performed to sold-out concerts all over. To honour her success in the U.S., Najwa was presented with the Key to the City of Chicago.

Ma Hada La Hada and Maghroumeh

After the sell-out world tour, Najwa returned to Lebanon with a fresh mind and new song ideas. And so work began on her next studio album - Ma Hada La Hada. The tracks on the album were quite different from those of Najwa's previous albums, with a more contemporary sound. For example the song "El Helw" was heavily influenced by foreign beats and synthesised melodies. Three months prior to the album's official release, the song El Tahady was distributed to the Arabic radio stations. By the time of the album's release, the song's popularity had dwindled, and Ma Hada La Hada's relatively poor sales were attributed to this factor. However, the title track did become quite popular. It had harmonious musical arrangements which used the traditional Lebanese instrument the Qanoun, along with other traditional instruments such as the violin and the accordion. These musical stylings, along with an uplifting song topic and a powerful "mini movie" video clip made the song a huge hit.

The 1998 release, Maghroumeh, marked Karam's "official" transition from purely traditional Lebanese artist to the blend of traditional and contemporary Arabic that she is famous for today. It had poetic Arabic lyrics sung with Najwa's trademark power and authority; extensive use of Arabic instruments (trumbakke, mijwiz, zamour, tabal... etc.) and contemporary ones; and a brand new look for the album cover. Maghroumeh was another success from Karam. The title track, Maghroumeh (I am in Love), was shot as a video clip, and was the biggest hit off the album, hitting number one on most radio stations in the region. Other hits were the feisty Ghamza (The Wink) and the sad love song Noqta al-Satr (Somewhere along the line).

Rouh Rouhi

The new year brought about a number of changes in Karam's career lives. Najwa's new album was set to be released in the summer, and her personal changes were showing in her new album Rouh Rouhi. It was similar to the Maghroumeh album, but had a number of tweaks in the vocal and musical styles. The musical arrangements were heavily detailed and technical, and the lyrics were more poetic than all other Karam albums. The tracks Ariftu Albi La Meen (Do you know who my heart belongs to?), Atchana (Thirsty), and the title track, Rouh Rouhi (Soul of my Soul) were the major hits off the album, the latter two being shot as music videos. Many other songs succeeded like "Kif Bdawik (How do I treat You?)", and "Ma Berda Ghayrak (I Don't Accept Anyone Beside You)".

The new millennium

No Regrets

Another year, another change from Najwa Karam. This time it came about in the form of a music album called Oyoun Qalbi. Oyoun Qalbi was a more romantic, reflective body of work compared to Karam's previous albums. Its major included Majboura (I have to) which had a modern jazz influence, and the "power ballets", Oyoun Qalbi (Sweetheart) and Khaleek al Ard (Stay down to earth). A music video was made for the Najwa 2000 megamix, which contained samples from each song on the Oyoun Qalbi album. The album sold over 5 Million copies, topping charts. It holds the up to date record for best selling Arabic album of all time.

In 2001, Karam made her record breaking release Nedmaneh. It sold over 4 million copies worldwide, and is one of Najwa's most acclaimed albums to date. It followed on from the style of music first presented by Karam in Oyoun Qalbi, and further experimented with new styles and sounds. The song 'Aaskah (Falling in love) was an enormous hit, hitting number one all over the Middle East, and was also quite popular abroad. It was a more playful and vibrant song than most of Karam's previous work, with a strong bass line, and a distinct oriental influence. It was quite different from any Arabic song at the time, and appealed to a wide range of audiences. The success of Nedmaneh brought about a number of awards, including a coveted Murex D'or for "Best Arabic Artist" award, and three special awards from Karam's production company, Rotana: "Artist of the Year", "Album of the Year" and "Highest Selling Album".In 2001 Najwa Karem got married to Youssef Harb and got divorce her brother tony spilled out her secret.

To further Rotana's crediting of Karam's successes, an honouring assemble was held on Saturday, 23 June 2001 where Karam was awarded for her achievements throughout her singing career and for the huge success of Nedmaneh. The ceremony was held at the Venesia Hotel, Beirut, Lebanon. In attendance were the Lebanese Minister of Information, Ghazi Al-Aredi who was representing the President of the Lebanese Republic, Émile Lahoud, prominent singer Wadih el Safi, acclaimed composer Elias Rahbani and a number of journalists and reporters. During the night, Karam sang some of her hits (old and new), and was presented with numerous medals and trophies. The recording was released on a special edition CD (Live in Concert), along with a compilation CD comprising of Najwa's hits from 1989-2000 titled The Very Best Of Najwa Karam.

Karam's 2002 album, Tahamouni, was far removed from the "easy going" contemporary feel of Oyoun Qalbi and Nedmaneh, and audiences noticed. The album was intended to get back in touch with a more youthful audience from other Arab nations, with whom had taken slight dis-interest in Karam's music from the late 90s. This was shown though songs like Tahamouni (They accused me) which included attempts at rapping, and Ew'a Tekoun Ze'alt (I hope you're not mad at me) which seemed to have a complete Western influence. The songs had a youthful sound.

He charmed me

In late 2002, Karam began meeting with the Lebanese "tarab" star, Wadih el Safi (Born 1919). Wadi had known Najwa for a while, and had been impressed with her vocal talents. The two of them decided to make a duet together, depicting the trials of a father-daughter relationship. The song was titled W Kberna (We grow old together), and was an epic ballad in which both vocalists showed immense vocal range and depth. W Kberna was a success as the lyrics were easy to relate to and it teamed two of the region's most prominent artists together.

Taking this success, Najwa got back to the drawing board for a new album. Months were spent piecing together lyrics and arrangements, and by mid 2003, the album was ready for release. Rotana set up a large launch party in Downtown Beirut, where over fifteen thousand of Karam's fans packed the streets, waiting for Najwa to appear and sing her new material.

Saharni (Charmed) was exactly the kind of album that was a rebirth of the "old Najwa Karam", and took the public by surprise, as they had at this point come to expect contemporary pop from the Shams el-Ghinnieh. The music had all the makings of distinctly Lebanese music: trumbakke solos, traditional wind instruments, lots of bass and a vibrant singing style - all features far removed from the "western" motif that most artists opted for at the time. Not only had Karam's music changed, but she also sported a new look, which further emphasised that the album was a turn around. Saharni's success was instantaneous, even though there was a lack of video clips for the songs, the album came through on top of the charts, and produced a number of major hits, including Edhak Lil Dounya (Smile to the world), and the title track Saharni (He charmed me).

Najwa made a world tour to complement Saharni's success, taking in the Middle East as well as destinations such as France and the U.S. with Wadih el Safi. She also travelled to Australia, where her concert there still holds the record for largest ever recorded concert attendance for an Arabic artist. Najwa was presented with a number of awards and achievements in 2003. These include "Highest Selling Album" from Rotana, and award for the "Best singer of Traditional Lebanese Song" from the Lions Club, "Song of the Year": Edhak Lil Donya from Sawt El Ghad Australia and an honorary Award from Australian Government.

As the New Year came and passed, Karam began work on a new single to be included in her upcoming album. This single would be like no other she had released before. Titled Leish Mgharrab? (Why are you living abroad?) it told of the hardships that people face when having to leave their home country for a better life. Coupled with this harrowing topic, was a revolutionary new music video (directed by Sa'aed el-Marouk), which would transform modern day Beirut into a bleak and harsh wasteland in 2020. The original video - which also contained scenes of citizens protesting against the Lebanese government - was banned from being aired by the Lebanese Parliament. When the clip was edited slightly, it was finally allowed to go to air, along with its song. It hit home with many people, especially those living abroad in countries like Australia and the U.S.. It also sent a direct message to Lebanese politicians, telling them to act on their words.

After a few months, Najwa had completed the rest of her new album, Shu Mghaira..!. Like Saharni, it was distinctly Lebanese, but it was more of a modern adaptation, with a reflective and sad overtone. Najwa continued her many live appearances to promote the album, and a notable event for 2004 was her sell-out concert in Carthage, Tunisia where she performed to thousands of enthusiastic fans. The tracks Bi Hawak (In your love) and Shu Mghaira (How you've changed) were shot in an expensive duel video clip which was riddled with special effects. It remained at the number 1 position for 6 weeks on the Rotana Top 20 Chart. The two songs were the most popular from the album, and Najwa obtained the as "Female Artist of the Year" from MusicanaNet.net, which was decided via a large scale internet poll.

2005 and beyond

In the second quarter of 2005, Karam released a new single and video clip called Shu Jani. Shu Jani was a contemporary pop song, with the use of traditional Lebanese instruments. The video was filmed in the Faraya ski resort in Lebanon by director Sa'aed el-Marouk. It was to be on her upcoming 2005 album. The timing of the new clip was criticised in some tabloids, because it was released during the tense electoral season in Lebanon, and the so-called Cedar Revolution (Independence Intifada). It was argued by these tabloids that it was disrespectful for Karam to release new material at such a time. Karam defended herself by putting the claim on her Saudi production company, Rotana, who she says fast tracked the release against her wishes. Even though there was some controversy surrounding Shu Jani, it fared well with the public.

Due to the prolonged situation in the Lebanon region, Karam's 2005 album was postponed from originally being released in June, then July and then finally postponed until November 2005. However, Karam released another single in late July called Bhebak Walaa which was an upbeat, contemporary/traditional song typical of Karam's usual work. It was a fairly big hit, hitting number one on many internet and radio charts. On 6 September 2005, Karam released the video for Bhebak Walaa, directed by Salim el-Turk.

Love Just Got Greater

In November 2005, billboards and unipolls all over Beirut were displaying a lady's hand upon a cloudy horizon. No writing was on the posters. The advertisement had the public wondering what message the posters were relaying, and who did the mysterious hand belong to? Soon it was generally concluded that the hand belonged to a recording artist, but there were many conflicting suggestions as to whose it was. Gradually, the billboards had bits of the lady added to the picture, until on 30 November 2005 the "mystery lady" was revealed as Najwa Karam.

On the same day, Karam's 15th studio album, Kibir'el Hob (Love Just Got Greater) was officially released. The album gained widespread attention through its rigorous advertising campaign, which included the billboard posters, many television appearances [on popular variety programs such as Dandana, and Akeed Maestro], and music video clips for singles. Kibir'el Hob topped the highest selling album chart in Lebanon for Rotana during the Christmas sales period, and remained in the number one position through the New Year. In mid April 2006, Karam released a third and last single from the Kibir'el Hob album, accompanied by a video clip, and proved to be among the most popular Arabic songs of the year 2006.

In response to the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, Karam teamed for the first time with popular Lebanese singer/songwriter Melhim Barakat to record the song Rah Yeb2a El Watan. The track was written and composed by Barakat, and called for unity among all Lebanese people. The single was released in late September and was critically acclaimed for its message and vocals, although criticised for its short running time. Plans for another collaboration with Barakat are underway.

2007-2008: Haida Haki, (That's What I'm Talking About) & Aam Bimzah Maak, (I'm Kidding With You)

28 May began Sawt el Ghad and several other Arab radio stations to play the new hit Hayda Haki. This song with a very new style was expected to be a great deal for 2007.

On 6 June 2007, the company Rotana released Najwa's 16th album titled Hayda Haki. A new Lebanese album with Najwa Karam's special flavor in it. This album include 8 excellent songs as usual.

Different kind of styles in each song. A powerful mawal in Raje3 Tes2al 3a Meen and a nice/soft mawal for El hanone. Law ma btekzob is like her 90's songs , Ana Rouh and Nawer Eyami are two of a kind romance songs. Hata Be Ahlamak , Hayda Haki and Behkik are upbeat songs with different styles in each one and a special Najwa Karam's touch. Hayda Haki was the next song (after her 06-07 huge hit Shu Hal Hala) that Najwa Karam shot as a video clip with Lebanese director Said el Marouk.

From the First week of the release of Hayda Haki it was the best selling album in Lebanon in UAE and Kwait Number one best selling Album.The Album had huge succees from the first week of release in Lebanon, the Gulf, Libya, Syria, Jordan and other Arabic countries.

Najwa Karam was a guest on the show Album on MBC 1. In 29 June 2007, she shined on Album's stage , one week before Album's final prime. She started by singing Hayda Haki by herself. Secondly, she sang Sho hal hala with one of the three groups. Thirdly, she sang Law Ma Btekzob with another group of the three groups.

In June she released her latest video clip : Hayda Haki, which displayed her character in a romantic atmosphere and love shots and in its first day on the charts she landed on the 1st spot.

Najwa Karam toured the United States and Canada with Lebanese Stars Wael Kfoury and Fadel Shaker, the tour lasted for a little more than a month as they visited major cities and was all success. The American concerts were in Chicago, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas, Detroit, New Jersey, Boston and Miami. And in Canada, concerts were in Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto, singing in the biggest and most important venues.

Najwa celebrated the New Year's Eve with Wael Kfoury in the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, the huge demand on the concert left it sold out more than a week before its date.

Najwa Karam was the first guest on the first prime of Star Academy 5 LBC on Friday 25 January 2008. She sang: Hayda Haki, Law ma btekzob and Ana rou7 ya rou7i.

On 9 February, Karam held a huge, successful concert in the capital city of Germany , Berlin.

After four days , Najwa released a video clip for "Law Ma Btekzob" by the director Fadi Haddad. The song achieved tremendous success across the middle east. Along with Law Ma Btekzob success, the song Behkeek was achieveing unexpected success too in Egypt and Lebanon ranking #2 in both charts for couple of weeks.

One of Najwa's most anticipated appearance on tv show Al Arrab (Final), with host Nishan, was aired on 31 May. As well, George Kurda7i was there. Najwa sang medley of her old and new songs and added songs for Fairouz, Sabah , Wadih El Safi and Samira Tawfiq. She also sang one of her old mawal "Wainak Ya Ra3i Deni" (Where are you God?) aka. Mawal El Adyan and it achieved huge success.

On 17 July 2008, Rotana released Najwa's 17th studio-album, "Am Bimzah Maak(I'm Joking with you). The album received great amount of success and positive critics. The album contained 8 songs. One of the most famous arabic composer Melhim Baraket composed two songs from the album: "Kammil 3ala Rouhi" and "Gatalna El Khof". The album stayed for three months #1 in Virgin Mega Store Lebanon, 4 weeks #1 in UAE Virgin Mega Store, 8 Weeks in Saudi Arabia, etc.; Rotana , Najwa's production company, said that Najwa Karam's last album Am Bimzah Maak, was one of the top 3 best-selling (Rotana) albums in the middle east. It was chosen by Virgin MegaStore Jordan , as Top 3 most selling albums in the year of 2008.

One week after the release of her album, The Queen of Carthage, Najwa Karam shined in Carthage, Tunisia. The concert was very successful.

Najwa Karam went to Sweden where she shined in the Globe-arena 20 September.

The celebrating of Eid El Fitr took place in Dubai.

While four songs from Aam Bimza7 Maak; Am Bimzah Maak , Enta El Shams , Amanti Galbi , and Taa Khabik were achieving a lot of success all over the middle east, Najwa released her second video clip from her latest album " Ma Bkhabi Aleyk" were she collaborated for the first time with Lebanese young director Randa Aalam.

She got an invitation to open the new music-channel named Al Dafrah that would take place 1 November.

Najwa shot a 3rd video clip from her successful album " Aam Bimza7 Maa" called Taa Taa Khabik. And it played on many Music channels in the middle east and received huge success in Lebanon, Maghreb, Syria, Jordan and the Gulf countries.

2009: Khaleeni Shoofak, (Let Me See You)

On February 2009, Najwa attended one of the Middle East most important concert, Hala Febrayer 09 in Kuwait. She performed a mixture of old and new songs for the very active crowd.

On 9 March, specifically on Mothers Day, Najwa Karam released her anticipated single "El Deni Em" (A mother is the whole world), which received huge success and stayed #1 for three weeks on the Online-Magazine "Elaph".

After the meeting between Najwa Karam and Nidal El Ahmadieh (journalist) took place to discuss the many events that took place including Nidal El Ahmadieh's imprisonment, everything is back to normal and Najwa & Nidal are back to being on better terms.

In May of 2009, Najwa Karam traveled to Morocco to perform at the Mawazine Festival 2009. Her opening performance attracted a crowd exceeding 60,000. She performed for two and a half hours long as the crowd sang and danced along with her. It will go down in history as one of, if not the most successful concert of Najwa's legendary career.

On 10 June 2009, Rotana released Najwa's 18th album, entitled "Khallini Shoufak" (Let me see you). It has been deemed a very strong release from Shams El Ghenniyie, Najwa Karam. The album contains 8 songs, each with a different style of music and catchy lyrics. It is worth mentioning that along with the lead single "Khallini Shufak", three other songs are receiving huge success: "Eidak" (your hand), "Allah Yesghello Balo" (may God make him worry), and "Aboos Eynak" (kiss your eye). The remaining songs are: "Wale'"(light the fire), "El Deni Em" (a mother is the whole world), "Albi Masna' Baroud" (my heart is a gun factory), "El Haramy" (the thieve). The album is considered to be Najwa's strongest return to her original style since "Saharny" (2003). Najwa said, "it's full of folkloric, balady songs, similar to Saharny and her 90's releases". Her video for "Khallini Shoufak" was released around the same time as her cd.

It's worth to mention that Najwa was a guest performer on Star Academy 6's (Lebanon) final prime. She sang "Am Bemzah Ma'ak" (I'm joking with you), "Ta'a Khabeek" (Let me hide you), and her latest single, "Khallini Shoufak" (Let Me See you).

Najwa appeared on Layali El Samar on March 25, 2010 on ABU DHABI TV. Also Najwa was the guest star on Taratata, Dubai TV, and soon after she appeared on the TV show Akher Man Ya3lam.

In 7 May 2009 sawt el ghad radio Beirut start playing Najwa's new hit Bil Rou7 Bil Dam (with soul with blood) and it was the first time since 17 years that Najwa produce her song out of Rotana... the song is well received by the people and having a huge success.

On November 11 2010 Najwa released her newest single "Lashhad Hobak" (I'll beg for your love). The video clip is now showing on multiple arabic television stations.

Najwa Karam has officially signed the contract with Rotana for 2011 after some complication with the record company.

Philanthropy

2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict

Karam's initial response to the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict was to go ahead with scheduled tour dates abroad, with all proceeds forwarded to the Lebanese Red Cross. Furthermore, Karam donated 3 fully equipped ambulance vehicles, also to the Lebanese Red Cross.

Other causes

In November 2006, Karam attended the launching of charity program Reach Out To Asia in Doha. The program aims at raising money for the underprivileged and disadvantaged across Asia. Karam performed at the event.

Najwa has also raised money for other causes such as cancer research via a number of chartity performances.

Before the end of 2007 Najwa Karam appeared on LBCI tv and announced that she will be donating free full health insurance for 300 attending elderly people, hoping that this "small" first step will become bigger and bigger.

Najwa performed in a live concert on Berlin, Germany during February 2008, a percentage of the concert's earnings goes as aid for children of war in Lebanon and Palestine.

Najwa, also is currently working hard to be appointed United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, she feels that she has to contribute through her art to spread peace worldwide from the middle east.

Awards and nominations

{| class="wikitable" border="1" ! Year ! Awarded by ! Category |- bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | 1985 | Layali Lubnan | Gold Medal First Place |- | 1994 | Lebanese Broadcasting | The Best Singer |- bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | 1995 | Lebanese Broadcasting | The Best Singer |- | 1995 | LaRami.com | The Most Famous Singer |- bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | 1996 | United States|U.S | Honorary United States|American Citizenship |- | 1996 | United States|U.S | Key to the City of Chicago |- bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | 1996 | Jordan | Jerash Festival Award |- | 1996 | 2nd Orbit | Festival Award |- bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | 1996 | LaRami.com | The Most Famous Singer |- | 1997 | Tunis | Carthage Festival Award |- bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | 1998 | Oman | Masqat Festival Award |- | 1998 | Germany | Key to the City of Düsseldorf |- bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | 1998 | Canada | Arab Communities Festival Award |- | 1998 | Libya | Alfatih Festival Award |- bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | 1999 | Australia | Arab Communities Festival Award |- | 1999 | Lebanese Army | Honorary Award |- bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | 2000 | Tunisia | Carthage Festival Award |- | 2000 | Tunisia | Alzahra City festival Award |- bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | 2000 | International France|French Press Organization (IFP) | Pronounced As "Lebanese Diva" |- | 2001 | Qatar | "Doha Arab Song" Festival Award |- bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | 2001 | Kuwait | Hala February Festival Award |- | 2001 | UAE | Layali Dubai Festival Award |- bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | 2001 | Lebanon | Murex D'or award for The Best Arabic singer |- | 2001 | Lebanon | Best Singer from Lebanese Radio Stations |- bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | 2001 | Rotana | Artist of the year |- | 2001 | Rotana | Album of the Year: Nedmani |- bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | 2001 | Rotana | The highest selling album: Nedmani |- | 2001 | Al delta, Almahabi, Almeraj, Jabal Lebanon & Sawt El Musica | Awards |- bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | 2002 | Aley | Festival Award |- | 2002 | Lebanon | Tyre Festival Award |- bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | 2003 | Rotana | Highest selling album: Saharni |- | 2003 | Lebanon | Tyre Festival Award |- bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | 2003 | Lions | Best Singer of the Traditional Lebanese Songs |- | 2003 | Lebanon | Faraya City Award |- bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | 2003 | Jordan | Jarash Festival Award |- | 2003 | Sawt El Ghad Australia | Song of the Year: Edhak Lil Donya |- bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | 2003 | Australian Government | Honorary Award |- | 2004 | Kuwait | Hala February Award |- bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | 2004 | Tunisia | Carthage Festival Award |- | 2004 | Lebanon | Zahle City Award |- bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | 2004 | MusicanaNet.net | Female Artist of the Year |- | 2005 | Rotana | Arabic Singer of the Year |- bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | 2005 | Sawt El Ghad Australia | Song of the Year: Bhebak Walaa |- | 2006 | Sawt El Ghad Australia | Shu Hal Hala marked #4 in Top 100 songs |- bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | 2007 | Qatar | Doha Festival Award |- | 2007 | Kuwait | Hala February Award |- bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | 2007 | Jordan | Jerash Festival Award |- | 2007 | Canada | The Best Female Singer in the Middle East |- bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | 2007 | Mosaqiue Fm | Best Album of the Year: Hayda Haki |- | 2007 | Zahrat Al Khaleej Yearly Survey | Most Popular Female Singer #1, Best Female Singer #2 |- bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | 2008 | Tunisia | Queen Of Carthage |- | 2008 | Software Times Award | The Best Arabic Singer |- bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | 2008 | LE Music Choice | The Best Lebanese Song: Am Bimzah Maak |- | 2008 | Al Sarih Magazine | The Best Arabic Singer |- | 2008 | Zahrat Al Khalig | The Best Arabic Singer (receiving 90%) |- | 2008 | Stars Magazine | #1 The Best Album: Am Bimzah Maak | Rotana | One of the most selling albums: Am Bimzah Maak |- | 2009 | Melody FM | Najwa Karam Best female singer |- | 2009 | Al Jaras TV | "Khallini shufak" Best Album for the year | Best Female singer for the year |- | 2009 | Hiya TV | Najwa karam best female singer of the year, program: Top of the Tops | "Khallini shufak" Best Album fot the year receiving 64% |- | 2009 | Najwa Karam Best singer ever who sings LEBANESE SONG accordind to www.bisara7.com |- | 2009 | IRAQ Radio FM | Najwa karam best female singer for the year (97%) | "khallini shufak" got the number 2 best selling album in Iraq |- | 2009 | El Madina FM | Najwa Karam best female singer for the year (31.0%) |- | 2009 | Zahrat El khalij | Najwa Karam number 1 as Best female Arab singer for the year |}

Discography

Studio albums

1989: Ya Habayeb

1992: Shams el-Ghinnieh

1993: Ana Ma'akon

1994: Naghmet Hob

1995: Ma Bassmahlak

1996: Hazi Helo

1997: Ma Hada La Hada

1998: Maghroumeh

1999: Rouh Rouhi

2000: Oyoun Qalbi

2001: Nedmaneh

2002: Tahamouni

2003: Saharni

2004: Shu Mghaira..!

2005: Kibir'el Hob

2007: Hayda Haki:

2008: Am Bemzah Ma'ak

2009: Khallini Shoufak

2010: TBA

Singles not appearing in albums

2000: Tal Omrak

2003: W Kberna withWadih El Safi

2005: Shu Jani

2006: Rah Yeb'a El Watan featuring Melhem Barakat

2007: Bel Sana with Melhem Barakat

2010: ''Bil Rou7 Bil Dam"

2010: ''Lash7ad Hobak"

Compilations

2001: The Very Best Of Najwa Karam

2006: Greatest Hits

Live recordings

2001: Live in Concert

2008: Queen of Carthage 2008

See also

Music of Lebanon

References

External links

Najwa Karam's Official Website

Najwa Karam's Page on Rotana

Wadih El Safi & Najwa Karam in Kberna

Najwa Karam Latest Album — Listen to the latest album of Najwa Karam

Category:1966 births Category:Living people Category:Arabic-language singers Category:Lebanese female singers Category:Lebanese Maronites Category:People from Zahle Category:Rotana artists

Name	Hala Gorani
Birth date	March 01, 1970
Birth place	Seattle, Washington, USA
Occupation	News anchor
Alma mater	George Mason University Sciences Po
Height
Spouse	Fadi Ghandour ( May 2010 )
Website	CNN´s Hala Gorani

Hala Basha-Gorani (Arabic : هالة غوراني) (born 1 March 1970), is a American anchor/correspondent for CNN International based in the network's headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. She anchors CNN International's International Desk from the CNN Center . Gorani previously co-hosted Your World Today with Jim Clancy until February 2009 when she moved to "International Desk".

Biography

Gorani was born in Seattle, Washington, United States to Syrian parents from Aleppo

Career

She began her career as a reporter for La Voix du Nord and Agence France-Presse before joining France 3 in 1994. After a stint at Bloomberg Television in London, she joined CNN in 1998. She has since reported from every country in the Middle East, and covered the Hezbollah-Israel war in the summer of 2006 from Lebanon, which made CNN win an Edward R. Murrow Award. In 2002 and in 2007, she led CNN's coverage of the respective French presidential elections.

Among the people interviewed by Gorani were Tony Blair, Amr Moussa, Rafik Hariri, Saeb Erakat, Nouri al-Maliki, Ehud Barak, and Bernard Kouchner. Gorani avoids discussing her political and religious views, citing the need for professional neutrality. Gorani is based in Atlanta, US.

French novelist Yann Moix dedicated his first novel "Jubilations Vers le Ciel" to Gorani in 1996.

References

External links

Official profile at CNN.com

Twitter

Hala Gorani's Inside the Middle East Diary, live from Jordan

Interview with Hala Gorani (French) 2010

Interview with Gorani June 2008

Category:1970 births Category:Alumni of Sciences Po Category:American journalists Category:CNN people Category:George Mason University alumni Category:Living people Category:People from Paris Category:People from Seattle, Washington Category:American reporters and correspondents Category:American people of Syrian descent

Name	Googoosh
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Faeqah Atashin
Born	May 05, 1950 Tehran, Iran
Genre	Pop
Occupation	Singer, actress
Years active	1953–present
Label	Avang Music Taraneh Records Caltex Records MZM Records Pars Video

Googoosh (alternately spelled: Gogosh, Gugush, Guguš, Googosh or Gougoush , ; , born Faeqah Atashin, , ,born 5 May 1950 in Tehran) is an Iranian pop singer and former actress. In the 1960s and 70, she was more widely known as a singer than as a Persian film actress. At that time, Googoosh was considered the most celebrated recording artist in Iran and much of Central Asia.

After the Iranian Revolution in 1979, she is famously known for remaining in Iran until 2000 and not performing again due to the ban on female singers. Still, her following grew. Younger people have rediscovered her music via bootleg recordings. Outside of Iran, she has a significant following in many Middle Eastern and Central Asian countries, and has even caught the attention of western media and press. Googoosh is rumored to reside in an estimated $16 million valued estate near Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, and continues her career, albeit in a limited manner.

Biography

Childhood and youth

Googoosh was born 'Faeqah Atashin' on 5 May 1950 on Sarcheshmeh Street of Tehran. Her father, Saber Atashin was an Iranian Azerbaijani who emigrated back to his native Iran several years before his marriage. While Googoosh was still an infant, her father divorced her mother. She began doing impersonations of some of the singers of the time. When her father discovered this talent, he put her on stage.

On 22 July 2009, Googoosh, delivered an emotional speech in which she said the outcome of the 12 June presidential election, which the protesters accuse President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of stealing, inspired her to make her first foray into politics. She and the other speakers stood in front of a banner bearing the names of some of the 600 protesters believed to remain in jail. The names of those killed were written in red.

“I have come here to be the voice for the sad mothers who lost their loved ones in peaceful demonstrations,” said the singer. “I have come here to be the just voice of the grass-roots and spontaneous movement among my compatriots and to show my solidarity.” Source New York Times.com

Awards

1971: first prize and golden record at the Midem trade fair in Cannes for her 7" record (as "Gougoush") featuring two songs in French: "Retour de la Ville" (A-side) and "J'entends Crier Je T'aime" (B-side).

1972: First prize at the Carthage Music Festival

1972: First medal of arts of Tunisia

Personal life

Googoosh's first husband was Mahmoud Ghorbani. He was a music promoter who had helped Googoosh make a name for herself throughout the 60s. They married in 1968. They had a son, Kambiz, who currently lives in Los Angeles and who is also in the music industry. In 1973, Ghorbani and Googoosh divorced.

In 1974, Googoosh married Iranian actor, Behrouz Vossoughi. They divorced 14 months later.

During the late 1970s, Googoosh became involved with Homayoun Mestaghi, but after the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Googoosh served a 3 month jail sentence because she was living with him outside of marriage, which was illegal under the Islamic regime. Several years later, Googoosh divorced Mestaghi.

She married director Masoud Kimiai in 1995. They divorced when she left Iran for Canada in 2000.

Discography

Studio albums

Mosabbeb (with Dariush, 1975)

Nimeh Gomshodeh Man ("My Lost Half", year unknown)

Behtarin Fasl-e-Taazeh ("The Best Fresh Season", year unknown)

Do Mahi ("Two Fishes", 1974)

Hamsafar ("Fellow Traveler", 1972)

?:Jadeh (The Road)

1971: Mordab (The Swamp)

1973:Do Panjareh (Two Windows)

?:Kavir (The Desert)

?:Kooh (The Mountain)

1978:Ageh Bemooni (If You Stay)

?:Yadam Basheh, Yadet Basheh (Shenasnameyeh 1)

?:Pol (The Bridge)

?:Setaareh (The Star)

?:Mann O Gonjeshkayeh Khoneh (Me and Sparoows of the Home)

?: Lahzeh Bidari (awakening moment)

1977: Dar Emtedâde Šab (Along the Night)

Albums since comeback

2000: Zartosht (Zoroaster)

2004: Akharin Khabar (Last News)

2006: Manifest (Manifest)

2008: ''Shabe Sepid (White Night)

2010: '' Hajme Sabz (Green X)

Filmography

{| class=wikitable |- ! Year !! Persian Title ! English Title |- |rowspan=2|1960 |Fereşteye Farâri (فرشتۀ فراری) |The Runaway Angel |- |Bim o Omid (بیم و امید) |Hope and Fear |- |1963 |Partgâhe Maxuf (پرتگاه مخوف) |The Cliff of Fear |- |1965 |Şeytune Balâ (شیطون بلا) |The Naughty One |- |rowspan=3|1966 |Gedâyâne Tehrân (گدايان تهران ) |The Beggars of Thehran |- |Fil va Fenjan (فيل و فنجان ) |Big and Small |- |Hosseyne Kord (حسين كرد) |Hosseyne Kord |- |rowspan=4|1967 |'Çâhâr Xwâhar'' (چهار خواهر) |Four Sisters ( with Leila Forouhar) |- |Darvâzeh Taqdir (دروازه تقدير) |The Gate of Fate |- |Ganjo Ranj (گنج و رنج) |Treasure and Toil |- |Dar Costocuye Tabahkâran (در جستجوي تبهكاران) |Searching for the Criminals |- |rowspan=3|1968 |Se Divâne (سه ‌دیوانه) |The Three Morons |- |Şabe Fereştegân (شب فرشتگان) |The Night of Angels |- |Setareye Haft âsemân (ستاره هفت آسـمان) |The Star of Seven Skies |- |1969 |Gonâhe Zibai (گناه زيبايی ) |The Sin of Beauty |- |rowspan=3|1970 |Tolu' (طلوع) |Sunrise |- |Cancâle 'Arusi ( جنجال عروسی ) |The Wedding Brawl |- |Pancere (پنجره) |The window |- |rowspan=3|1971 |Esâse Dâğ (احساس داغ) |Hot Feeling |- |Asemoune bi setareh (آسـمون بی ستاره ) |Starless Sky |- |Qesâs( قصاص ) |Retaliation |- |1972 |Bitâ (بیتا) |Bita |- |1973 |Khialati(خیالاتی) | |- |rowspan=4|1975 | Hamsafar (هـمسفر) | Co Traveler |- | Nâzanin (نازنین) |Nazanin |- |Mammal Emrikâyi (مـَمَل امریکایی) |American Mammal |- | Şabe Ğaribân (شب غریبان) |Nostalgic Night |- |1976 |Mâh Asal (ماه عسل) | Honeymoon |- |1977 |Dar Emtedâde Şab (در امتداد شب) |Along the Night |- |1979 |Emşab aşki mirizad (امشب اشکی می ریزد) |Tonight Someone Cries |} Googoosh also played in two other movies, Marde Kerayee(man for hire)(مرد کرایه ای) and Haaji Firouz( حاجی فیروز) but the production of these film were stopped at the last stages for unknown reasons.

Post 2000 Tours

Googoosh Comeback Tour (2000–2001)

2001 18 August 2001 - Toronto, Air Canada Centre 19 July 2001 - Tunis, Menzah Stadium 8 September 2001 - Sydney

2002

21 September 2002- Oakland, Oakland Arena (CANCELLED)

28 September 2002- Los Angeles, Staples Center (CANCELLED)

2003 8 February 2003 - Los Angeles, The Forum 24 May 2003 - Anaheim, Honda Center (former Arrowhead Pond) 4 October 2003 - Washington, DC, Verizon Center (former MCI Center)

2004 25 December 2004 - Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas

2005 17 September 2005 - Los Angeles, The Forum 24 September 2005 - Fairfax, Virginia (near Washington, DC), Patriot Center 12 November 2005 - San Francisco, Bill Graham Civic Auditorum 24 December 2005 - Las Vegas, Thomas & Mack Center 2006 11 March 2006 - Dallas, Nokia Theatre 27 May 2006 - Vancouver, GM Place 3 June 2006 - Toronto, Air Canada Centre 9 September 2006 - San Diego, Symphony Hall 7 October 2006 - Los Angeles, Kodak Theater 8 October 2006 - Los Angeles, Kodak Theater 21 October 2006 - New York, Madison Square Garden

2007 13 January 2007 - Atlanta, Atlanta Civic Center 20 January 2007 - Flint Center, Cupertino (near San Jose) 7 July 2007 - Toronto, Air Canada Centre 15 September 2007 - Miami, Knight Concert Hall 1 December 2007 - Vancouver, Queen Elizabeth Theatre 25 December 2007 - Oberhausen, Arena Oberhausen 27 December 2007 - Stockholm, Globen Arena 29 December 2007 - London, Hammersmith Apollo

'''2008

15 March 2008 - Houston, George R. Brown Convention Center

26 March 2008 - Dubai, Dubai Media City

28 June 2008 - Ledyard, CT, MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort & Casino

23 August 2008 - Los Angeles, Nokia Theatre

Memory Lane Tour(2009–2010)

21 March 2009- Oakland- Paramout Theatre

6 June 2009- Washington, DC- DAR Constitution Hall

7 August 2009- Melbourne, Australia- Dallas Brooks Centre

8 August 2009- Sydney, Australia- Sydney Convention Centre

19 September 2009- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia- KLCC Concert Hall

29 November 2009- Dubai, World Trade Center

* 21 March 2010- London, Wembley Arena

23 March 2010- Dubai, World Trade Center

17 April 2010- Toronto, Ricoh Coliseum

30 July 2010- Bahrain, International Exhibition center

(The July 30th show of the Memory Lane Tour was cancelled due to interruptions by the Iranian Government.) As of July 2010 It has been speculated that there are 5 remaining shows in The Memory Lane Tour which will wrap up in Fall 2010.

1 August 2010- Antalya, Konyaalti Open-Air Amphitheatre

12 September 2010 - Erbil, Kurdistan region Iraq ,Babylon world Amphitheatre

15 September 2010 - Istanbul, Istanbul Convention Center

18 September 2010 - Vancouver, Queen Elizabeth Theatre

24 December 2010 - Stockholm,Kista Massan

25 December 2010 - Germany , Koln, Koln Arena

See also

List of famous Iranian women

Persian pop music

References

External links

Official website

Googoosh at Allmusic

Iran Chamber

Category:1950 births Category:Living people Category:Iranian actors Category:Iranian Azeris Category:Iranian female singers Category:Iranian pop singers Category:Iranian Shi'a Muslims Category:People from Tehran

Playername	Cristiano Ronaldo
Fullname	Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
Dateofbirth	February 05, 1985
Cityofbirth	Funchal, Madeira
Countryofbirth	Portugal
Height
Position	Winger/Forward
Currentclub	Real Madrid
Clubnumber	7
Youthyears1	1993–1995 |youthclubs1 = Andorinha
Youthyears2	1995–1997 |youthclubs2 = Nacional
Youthyears3	1997–2001 |youthclubs3 = Sporting CP
Years1	2001–2003 |clubs1 = Sporting CP |caps1 = 25 |goals1 = 3
Years2	2003–2009 |clubs2 = Manchester United |caps2 = 196 |goals2 = 84
Years3	2009– |clubs3 = Real Madrid |caps3 = 47 |goals3 = 48
Nationalyears1	2001–2002 |nationalteam1 = Portugal U17 |nationalcaps1 = 9 |nationalgoals1 = 6
Nationalyears2	2003 |nationalteam2 = Portugal U20 |nationalcaps2 = 5 |nationalgoals2 = 1
Nationalyears3	2002–2003 |nationalteam3 = Portugal U21 |nationalcaps3 = 6 |nationalgoals3 = 3
Nationalyears4	2004 |nationalteam4 = Portugal U23 |nationalcaps4 = 3 |nationalgoals4 = 1
Nationalyears5	2003– |nationalteam5 = Portugal |nationalcaps5 = 79 |nationalgoals5 = 25
Pcupdate	22:49, 3 January 2011 (UTC)
Ntupdate	22:38, 17 November 2010 (UTC)

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, OIH, (; born 5 February 1985), Ronaldo holds the distinction of being the first player to win the FIFA Puskás Award, an honour handed by FIFA to the best goal of the year. He scored that goal from 40 yards out, against Porto in a UEFA Champions League quarter-final match, while still playing for Manchester United.

Ronaldo began his career as a youth player for Andorinha, where he played for two years, then moved to Nacional. In 1997, he made a move to Portuguese giants Sporting CP. Ronaldo's precocious talent caught the attention of Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson and he signed the 18-year-old for £12.24 million in 2003. The following season, Ronaldo won his first club honour, the FA Cup, and reached the Euro 2004 final with Portugal, in which tournament he scored his first international goal.

In 2008, Ronaldo won the Champions League with United, and was named player of the tournament. He was named the FIFPro World Player of the Year and the FIFA World Player of the Year, in addition to becoming Manchester United's first Ballon d'Or winner in 40 years. Three-time Ballon d'Or winner Johan Cruyff said in an interview on 2 April 2008, "Ronaldo is better than George Best and Denis Law, who were two brilliant and great players in the history of United."

Early life

Ronaldo was born on 5 February 1985 in Santo António, a neighbourhood of Funchal, Madeira, the youngest child of Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro, a cook, and José Dinis Aveiro, a municipal gardener. His second given name, "Ronaldo", was chosen after then-U.S. president Ronald Reagan, who was his father's favourite actor. He has one older brother, Hugo, and two older sisters, Elma and Liliana Cátia.

Club career

Early career

At the age of eight, Ronaldo played for amateur team Andorinha, where his father was the kit man. In 1995, Ronaldo signed with local club Nacional, and, after a title-winning campaign, he went on a three-day trial with Sporting CP, who subsequently signed him for an undisclosed sum.

Sporting CP

Ronaldo joined Sporting's other youth players who trained at the Academia Sporting, the club's football academy, in Alcochete. He became the only player ever to play for Sporting's U-16, U-17, U-18, B-team, and first team, all within one season. He scored two goals in his Sporting debut against Moreirense, while featuring for Portugal in the 2002 European Under-17 Championship.

When he was 15, Ronaldo was diagnosed with a racing heart, a condition that might have forced him to give up playing football. The Sporting staff were made aware of the condition and Ronaldo's mother gave her authorisation for him to go into hospital. While there, he had an operation in which a laser was used to cauterise the area of his heart that was causing the problem. The surgery took place in the morning and Ronaldo was discharged from hospital by the end of the afternoon; he resumed training only a few days later.

He was first spotted by then-Liverpool manager Gérard Houllier at the age of 16, but Liverpool declined to take him on because they decided he was too young and needed some time to develop his skills. However, he came to the attention of Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson in the summer of 2003, when Sporting defeated United 3–1 in the inauguration of the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon. Ronaldo's performance impressed the Manchester United players, who urged Ferguson to sign him.

Manchester United

2003–2006

Ronaldo became Manchester United's first-ever Portuguese player when he signed for €15 million (£12.24 million) after the 2002–03 season. He requested the number 28 (his number at Sporting), as he did not want the pressure of living up to the expectation linked to the number 7 shirt, which had previously been worn by players such as George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona, and David Beckham. "After I joined, the manager asked me what number I'd like. I said 28. But Ferguson said 'No, you're going to have No. 7,' and the famous shirt was an extra source of motivation. I was forced to live up to such an honour."

Ronaldo made his team debut as a 60th-minute substitute in a 4–0 home victory over Bolton Wanderers. He scored his first goal for Manchester United with a free kick in a 3–0 win over Portsmouth on 1 November 2003. Ronaldo ended his first season in English football by scoring the opening goal in United's 3-0 FA Cup final victory over Millwall

He scored United's 1000th Premier League goal on 29 October 2005 in a 4–1 loss to Middlesbrough. He scored ten goals in all competitions, and fans voted him to his first FIFPro Special Young Player of the Year award in 2005.

Ronaldo won his second trophy in English football in the 2005-06 season, scoring the third goal in Manchester United's 4-0 Football League Cup final victory over Wigan Athletic.

2006–2009

The 2006-2007 season proved to be the breakout year for Ronaldo, as he broke the 20 goal barrier for the first time and picked up his first league title with Manchester United.

In November and December 2006, Ronaldo received consecutive Barclays Player of the Month honours, becoming only the third player in Premier League history to do so after Dennis Bergkamp in 1997 and Robbie Fowler in 1996. He scored his 50th Manchester United goal against city rivals Manchester City on 5 May 2007 as United claimed their first Premier League title in four years, and he was voted into his second consecutive FIFPro Special Young Player of the Year award at the end of the year.

Despite rumours circulating in March 2007 that Real Madrid were willing to pay an unprecedented €80 million (£54 million) for Ronaldo, he signed a five-year, £120,000-a-week (£31 million total) extension with United on 13 April, making him the highest-paid player in team history.

Ronaldo amassed a host of personal awards for the season. He won the PFA Players' Player of the Year and PFA Young Player of the Year awards, joining Andy Gray (in 1977) as the only players to receive this honour. In April, he completed the treble by winning the PFA Fans' Player of the Year. Ronaldo was also one of eight Manchester United players named in the 2006–07 PFA Premier League Team of the Year.

celebrating a goal]] Ronaldo's 2007–08 season began with a red card for a headbutt on Portsmouth player Richard Hughes during United's second match of the season, for which he was punished with a three-match ban. Ronaldo said he had "learned a lot" from the experience and would not let players "provoke" him in the future. After scoring the only goal in a Champions League away match against Sporting, Ronaldo also scored the injury-time winner in the return fixture as Manchester United topped their Champions League group.

He finished as the runner-up to Kaká for the 2007 Ballon d'Or, and was third in the running for the FIFA World Player of the Year award, behind Kaká and Lionel Messi.

Ronaldo scored his first hat trick for Manchester United in a 6–0 win against Newcastle United at Old Trafford on 12 January 2008, bringing Manchester United up to the top of the Premier League table. He scored his twenty-third league goal of the season in a 2–0 win against Reading, equalling his entire total for the 2006–07 season. During a 1–1 Champions League first knockout round draw against Lyon on 20 February, an unidentified Lyon supporter continuously aimed a green laser at Ronaldo and United teammate Nani, prompting an investigation by UEFA. One month later, Lyon were fined CHF5,000 (£2,427) for the incident.

On 19 March 2008, Ronaldo captained United for the first time in his career in a home win over Bolton, scoring both goals in the 2–0 victory. The second of the goals was his 33rd of the campaign, which set a new club single-season scoring record by a midfielder and thus topped George Best's forty-year-old total of 32 goals in the 1967–68 season. Ronaldo scored another brace in a 4–0 win over Aston Villa on 29 March, which at the time gave him 35 goals in 37 domestic and European matches as both a starter and substitute. Ronaldo's scoring streak was rewarded with his becoming the first winger to win the 2007–08 European Golden Shoe, finishing eight points ahead of Mallorca's Dani Güiza.

In the 2007–08 Champions League final on 21 May against league rivals Chelsea, Ronaldo scored the opening goal after 26 minutes, which was negated by a Chelsea equaliser in the 45th minute as the match ended 1–1 after extra time. His misfire in the penalty shoot-out put Chelsea in position to win the trophy, but John Terry shot wide right after slipping on the pitch surface, and Manchester United emerged victorious 6–5 on penalties. Ronaldo was named the UEFA Fans' Man of the Match, and wrapped up the campaign with a career-high 42 goals in all competitions, falling four short of Denis Law's team-record mark of 46 in the 1963–64 season.

and rivals Liverpool.]] On 5 June 2008, Sky Sports reported that Ronaldo had expressed an interest in moving to Real Madrid if they offered him the same amount of money the team had allegedly promised him earlier in the year. Manchester United filed a tampering complaint with FIFA on 9 June over Madrid's alleged pursuit of Ronaldo, but FIFA declined to take any action. Speculation that a transfer would happen continued until 6 August, when Ronaldo confirmed that he would stay at United for at least another year.

Ronaldo underwent ankle surgery at the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam on 7 July. He returned to action on 17 September in United's UEFA Champions League goalless group-stage draw with Villarreal as a substitute for Park Ji-Sung, and scored his first overall goal of the season in a 3–1 League Cup third round win over Middlesbrough on 24 September.

In a 5–0 win over Stoke City on 15 November 2008, Ronaldo scored his 100th and 101st goals in all competitions for Manchester United, both from free kicks. The goals also meant that Ronaldo had now scored against each of the other 19 teams in the Premier League at the time. On 2 December, Ronaldo became Manchester United's first Ballon d'Or recipient since George Best in 1968. He finished with 446 points, 165 ahead of runner-up Lionel Messi. He was awarded the Silver Ball after finishing with two goals as United won the Club World Cup on 19 December.

On 8 January 2009, Ronaldo was uninjured in a single-car accident in which he wrote off his Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano in a tunnel along the A538 near Manchester Airport. A breathalyser test he gave to police officers at the scene was negative, and he attended training later that morning. Four days later, he became the first Premier League player ever to be named the FIFA World Player of the Year, in addition to being the first Portuguese player to win the award since Luís Figo in 2001.

Ronaldo scored his first Champions League goal of the season, and first since the final against Chelsea, in a 2–0 victory over Internazionale that sent United into the quarter-finals. In the second leg against Porto, Ronaldo scored a 40-yard game-winning goal as United advanced to the semi-finals. He later called it the best goal he had ever scored. Ronaldo participated in his second consecutive Champions League final, but made little impact in United's 2–0 loss to Barcelona. He finished with 53 appearances in all competitions, which was four higher than the previous year, but scored sixteen fewer goals (26) than his career-best total of 42 from the previous season.

On 11 June, Manchester United accepted an unconditional offer of £80 million from Real Madrid for Ronaldo after it was revealed that he again had expressed his desire to leave the club. It was confirmed by a representative of the Glazer family that the sale was fully condoned by Ferguson. When Ronaldo had eventually completed his transfer to Real, he expressed his gratitude towards Ferguson for helping him develop as a player, saying, "He's been my father in sport, one of the most important factors and most influential in my career."

Real Madrid

2009–10 season

and city rivals Atlético Madrid.]] On 26 June 2009, Real Madrid confirmed that Ronaldo would join the club on 1 July 2009 from Manchester United for £80 million, after agreeing terms and signing a six-year contract. Ronaldo's contract is worth €11 million per year He was presented to the world media as a Real Madrid player on 6 July, where he was handed the number 9 jersey. The shirt was presented to him by Madrid legend Alfredo di Stéfano. Ronaldo was welcomed by 80,000 fans at his presentation at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, surpassing Diego Maradona's record of 75,000 fans when he was presented in Italy, after he was transferred from Barcelona to Napoli in 1984.

Ronaldo made his Madrid debut on 21 July in a 1–0 win over Shamrock Rovers. His first goal came one week later with a penalty in Madrid's 4–2 LDU Quito. On 29 August, Ronaldo capped his La Liga debut with a goal, scoring Real's second from the penalty spot in a 3–2 home win against Deportivo La Coruña. On 15 September, Ronaldo scored two free-kicks in a 5-2 away victory over Zürich, his first Champions League goals for Real. He broke a Madrid club record when he scored in a league match against Villarreal and thus became the first ever player to score in his first four La Liga appearances.

An ankle injury suffered on 10 October, while Ronaldo was on international duty with Portugal against Hungary, kept him out until 25 November, which in turn caused him to miss both of Madrid's Champions League group stage matches against Milan. Ronaldo made his first post-injury start in a 1–0 El Clásico defeat to Barcelona on 29 November. On 6 December, he was sent off for the first time in his Madrid career in Madrid's 4–2 victory against Almería, a match which also saw him miss a penalty. He was carded first for removing his shirt during a goal celebration, then for kicking out at an opponent three minutes later. Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuaín scored 53 league goals during the course of the season and became Real's highest scoring league duo in their history.

2010–11 season

With the departure of Raúl during the summer of 2010, Ronaldo was handed the number 7 jersey. On 23 October 2010, Ronaldo scored four goals against Racing Santander, the most goals he has ever scored in a single match. This completed a goalscoring run of six consecutive matches (3 La Liga, 1 Champions League, 2 international) in which Ronaldo scored in each match, totalling eleven goals, which is the most Ronaldo has scored in a single month. His final match of the year saw him score a hat-trick on a 8-0 trashing of Levante on the Copa del Rey.

Ronaldo began the 2011 with a very promising outlook, specially since Real Madrid acknowledge him to have broken many goalscoring records, prevously settled and held by classic players such as Di Stéfano, Hugo Sánchez or Alday. His year took-off by scoring two vital goals on a tight 3-2 victory over Getafe. He then consolidated his massive performance by scoring a hat-trick and assisting Kaká to score his first league goal after his return from injury, on a 4-2 victory over Villareal on January 9. One game away from the middle of the season, Ronaldo held very clear perspectives of breaking Telmo Zarra and Hugo Sánchez's record of 38 League goals in a single season, since he was the league's top scorer with 22 goals, even above Lionel Messi.

International career

Ronaldo earned his first cap for Portugal in a 1–0 victory against Kazakhstan on 20 August 2003. He was called up for Euro 2004, scoring in a 2–1 group stage loss to eventual champions Greece and in a 2–1 semi-final win over the Netherlands. He was named in the team of the tournament despite finishing with only two goals. He also represented Portugal at the 2004 Summer Olympics.

2006 World Cup

Ronaldo was the second-highest scorer in FIFA World Cup qualification in the European zone with seven goals,

During a quarter-final match against England on 1 July 2006, Ronaldo's United teammate Wayne Rooney was sent off for stamping on Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho. The English media speculated that Ronaldo had influenced referee Horacio Elizondo's decision by aggressively complaining, after which he was seen in replays winking at the Portuguese bench following Rooney's dismissal. After the match, Ronaldo insisted that Rooney was a friend and that he was not pushing for Rooney to be sent off. On 4 July, Elizondo clarified that the red card was due to Rooney's infraction and not the fracas between Rooney and Ronaldo that followed.

The angry reaction from the English press caused Ronaldo to consider leaving United, and he allegedly told Spanish sports daily Marca that he wished to move to Real Madrid. In response to the speculation, Ferguson sent Portuguese assistant manager Carlos Queiroz to speak to Ronaldo in attempt to change his mind, a sentiment that was shared by Rooney. Ronaldo stayed, and signed his new five-year extension in April 2007.

Ronaldo was booed during Portugal's semi-final defeat to France, and missed out on the competition's Best Young Player award due to a negative e-mail campaign from England fans. Though the online vote only affected the nomination process, FIFA's Technical Study Group awarded the honour to Germany's Lukas Podolski, citing Ronaldo's behaviour as a factor in the decision.

Post-World Cup

One day after his 22nd birthday, Ronaldo captained Portugal for the first time in a friendly against Brazil on 6 February 2007. This move was in honour of Portuguese Football Federation president Carlos Silva, who had died two days earlier. Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari explained, "Mr. Silva asked me to make [Ronaldo] captain as a gesture... [he] is too young to be captain, but Mr. Silva asked me, and now he is no longer with us."

Euro 2008

Ronaldo scored eight goals in Portugal's UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, behind Poland's Ebi Smolarek, but finished with only one goal in the tournament as Portugal were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Germany. When Carlos Queiroz was named Portugal's new coach in July 2008, he appointed Ronaldo as team captain.

2010 World Cup

On 15 June 2010, in Portugal's opening 2010 FIFA World Cup match against Côte d'Ivoire, Ronaldo was tackled by right-back Guy Demel, which led to an argument and both being booked. The next day, Portugal contacted FIFA to suggest that Ronaldo's yellow card be rescinded since he was "pulled into" the confrontation after having already moved away from the spot where he was tackled, but the appeal was rejected.

Ronaldo failed to make an impact in the World Cup; after going scoreless in the qualifiers, his only goal came in Portugal's 7–0 group stage thrashing of North Korea on 21 June, which marked his first international goal in sixteen months. Portugal were ultimately eliminated by Spain in the round of sixteen.

International goals

Career statistics

Club

Statistics accurate as of match played 13 January 2011

Honours

Club

;Manchester United

Individual

Orders

Officer of the Order of Infante Dom Henrique

Medal of Merit, Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa (House of Braganza)

Personal life

Ronaldo's father, José Dinis Aveiro, died of an alcoholism-related liver condition in September 2005 at age 52 when Ronaldo was 20. Ronaldo's mother and Manchester United coach have stated that he does not drink alcohol as a result, and he has received libel damages over a Daily Mirror article that reported him drinking heavily in a nightclub while recovering from an injury in July 2008.

Ronaldo's autobiography, titled Moments, was published in December 2007. Along with one of his sisters, Ronaldo opened a fashion boutique under the name "CR7" (his initials and shirt number). There are currently two CR7 store locations, both of which are in Portugal; one in Lisbon and the other in Madeira.

On 9 June 2010, Madame Tussauds London unveiled Ronaldo's waxwork as part of the build-up to the World Cup. Ronaldo joins fellow footballers Steven Gerrard, Pelé and David Beckham at the event's venue.

Ronaldo announced that he had become a father on 3 July 2010. His official Facebook and Twitter pages reference the birth of his son and request privacy. is in full custody of Ronaldo and under the care of his mother and sisters.

On August 2010, Ronaldo hit 10 million fans on Facebook and in doing so made history by becoming the first non-US personality ever to achieve that kind of success on the social networking site.

Since the start of 2010 he has been dating Russian model Irina Shayk.

Philanthropy

Television footage of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami showed an 8 year old boy wearing a number 7 Portuguese football jersey who was stranded for 19 days after his family was killed. Following this, Ronaldo visited Aceh in Indonesia to raise funds for rehabilitation and reconstruction.

In support of the victims of the 2010 Madeira flood, Ronaldo is to play in a charity match in Madeira between the Portuguese Liga club Porto and players from Madeiran based Portuguese Liga clubs Marítimo and Nacional.

References

External links

Real Madrid official profile

2010 FIFA World Cup profile

ESPN Profile

Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:Portuguese footballers Category:Association football wingers Category:Portugal international footballers Category:Primeira Liga players Category:Sporting Clube de Portugal footballers Category:Premier League players Category:First Division/Premier League topscorers Category:Manchester United F.C. players Category:UEFA Euro 2004 players Category:Olympic footballers of Portugal Category:Footballers at the 2004 Summer Olympics Category:2006 FIFA World Cup players Category:Madeiran footballers Category:Expatriate footballers in England Category:UEFA Euro 2008 players Category:European Footballer of the Year winners Category:FIFA World Player of the Year winners Category:World Soccer Magazine World Player of the Year winners Category:Real Madrid C.F. players Category:La Liga footballers Category:Portuguese Roman Catholics Category:Portuguese expatriates in Spain Category:Expatriate footballers in Spain Category:Golden Globes (Portugal) winners Category:2010 FIFA World Cup players

Name	Akon
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Badara Akon Thiam
Born	April 16, 1973 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Origin	Dakar, Senegal
Genre	R&B;, hip hop, pop
Occupation	Singer-songwriter, record producer
Years active	1996–present
Label	Universal, SRC, Konvict, UpFront, Kon Live
Associated acts	T-Pain, Kardinal Offishall, Colby O'Donis, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, Sway DaSafo, Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie
Url

Akon (born Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Badara Akon Thiam), (), (born April 16, 1973) is a Senegalese-American R&B; singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and businessman.

He grosses over 30 million dollars a year according to Forbes. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first single from his debut album Trouble. His second album, Konvicted, earned him a Grammy Award nomination of the single "Smack That". He has since founded two record labels, Konvict Muzik and Kon Live Distribution.

Akon often sings hooks for other artists and is currently credited with over 300 guest appearances and 45 Billboard Hot 100 songs. He has worked with numerous performers such as Michael Jackson, R. Kelly, Quincy Jones, Eminem and Whitney Houston. He is the first solo artist to hold both the number one and two spots simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 charts twice. He has had 6 Grammy Awards nominations and has produced many hits for artists such as Lady Gaga, Colby O'Donis and Leona Lewis. Lady Gaga and T-Pain are two artists who were given their chance at fame by Akon. He has also released a song called "Beautiful" featuring Colby O'Donis and Kardinal Offishall which is in his hit album named Freedom which he released in 2008 and also "Right Now (Na Na Na)" in the same album.

Early life

As the son of Senegalese percussionist Mor Thiam, Akon was raised in a musical setting and taught to play several instruments including the djembe. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S., so that he would not have to go through the immigration process. However, Akon lived in Dakar, Senegal, splitting time between America and Senegal until he was in high school, when he settled permanently in Newark, NJ.

Akon has claimed in interviews that his full name is Aliaune Damala Akon Thiam and he is Muslim, he has never drunk alcohol or smoked due to his faith, although there is some ambiguity and debate about Akon's legal name and birth date. Akon is usually credited as Aliaune Thiam. In addition to the longer form, Akon's full name has been reported both as Aliaune Badara Thiam and Alioune Badara Thiam and About.com claims that this middle name has never been independently verified.

In regards to his birth date, Akon is very protective of it, which is the reason many media outlets have reported incorrect dates. However, legal documents released by The Smoking Gun list Akon's name as Aliaune Damala Thiam and his date of birth as April 16, 1973.

Music career

2003–05: Discovery and Trouble

Akon's alleged three years in jail saw him begin to recognize his music abilities and develop an appreciation for his musical background. Music mogul Devyne Stephens, president of Upfront Megatainment first heard about Akon when the rapper Lil' Zane brought him along to Stephens' rehearsal hall, a place that at the time saw talents such as Usher and TLC being developed. The relationship between Stephens and Akon began as a friendship and mentorship, with the young artist regularly stopping by to ask for advice, but when Akon lost his deal with Elektra Stephens signed him to his production company and began grooming him professionally. The songs Akon recorded with Stephens were brought to the attention of Universal's imprint SRC Records.

In 2005, he released the single "Lonely" (which samples Bobby Vinton's "Mr. Lonely"). The song reached the top five on the Billboard Hot 100, and topped the charts in Australia, the UK and Germany. His album also climbed to number one in the UK in April, 2005. When music channel The Box had a top ten weekly chart, which was calculated by the amount of video requests, Akon's "Lonely" became the longest running single on the top of the chart, spanning over fifteen weeks. Akon then released another single featuring with a New Zealand rapper, Savage with the single Moonshine, which had become a success in both New Zealand and Australia, becoming number one in the New Zealand charts. In 2005, He made his first critically acclaimed guest appearance on Young Jeezy's debut album, , with the song "Soul Survivor." In December the same year his manager, Robert Montanez was killed in a shooting after a dispute in New Jersey.

2006–07: Konvicted

Akon's second album, Konvicted was released on November 14, 2006. It included collaborations with Eminem, Snoop Dogg and Styles P. The first single "Smack That" featuring Eminem was released in August 2006 and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 for five consecutive weeks. "I Wanna Love You," (featuring Snoop Dogg) was the second single released in September, it would go on to earn Akon his first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100, and Snoop's second. "I Wanna Love You" topped the U.S. charts for two consecutive weeks. In January 2007, a third single "Don't Matter" which earned him his first solo number one and second consecutive Hot 100 chart topper was released. "Mama Africa" was released as a European single in July 2007, making it the fourth overall single from the album reaching just 47 in the UK.
To coincide with the release of the Platinum (deluxe) edition of the album "Sorry, Blame It on Me" was the album's fifth single, debuted in August 2007 on the Hot 100 at number seven. The deluxe version was fully released on August 28, 2007. The final single was confirmed by Akon to be "Never Took the Time." Konvicted debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, selling 286,000 copies in its first week. After only six weeks, Konvicted sold more than one million records in the U.S. and more than 1.3 million worldwide. The album was certified platinum after seven weeks, and after sixteen weeks it was certified double platinum. It stayed in the top twenty of the Billboard 200 for 28 consecutive weeks and peaked at number two on four different occasions. On November 20, 2007, the RIAA certified the album ‘triple platinum’ with 3 million units sold in the US. It has sold more than 4 million copies worldwide.

On October 5, 2006, Akon broke a record on the Hot 100, as he achieved the largest climb in the chart's 48-year-history with "Smack That" jumping from number 95 to 7. The leap was fueled by its number six debut on Hot Digital Songs with 67,000 downloads. The record has since been broken several times. In December 2006, Akon's "Smack That" was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards, but lost to Justin Timberlake and T.I.'s "My Love".

2008–09: Freedom

Akon released his new album Freedom on December 2, which spawned four singles: "Right Now (Na Na Na)", "I'm So Paid" (featuring Lil Wayne and Young Jeezy), "Beautiful" (featuring Kardinal Offishall and Colby O'Donis) and "We Don't Care". "We Don't Care" has failed to chart significantly in many countries, only reaching 61 in the UK and 91 in Australia. After the unexpected death of The King Of Pop Michael Jackson, who Akon was working with in Jackson's last years, Akon released a tribute song called "Cry Out Of Joy". Akon & Michael Jackson were close friends near the end of Jackson's life.

Speaking of his relationship with Michael Jackson to noted UK R&B; writer Pete Lewis of the award-winning 'Blues & Soul' in October 2008, Akon stated: "Mike is the King Of Pop, and I think that it's a dream come true for ANY major artist/songwriter/producer to be able to work with the best in the business! You know, to work with someone like Mike – who's created opportunities, opened doors for so many people, and achieved so much in the music world, period – is just an experience which would be enough to take home for ANYONE! I mean, when I first flew up to Vegas and met him it was almost like we'd known each other for YEARS! LITERALLY! 'Cause musically we were on the same exact page! The chemistry was just INCREDIBLE! And, as a person, he was the most cool, humble dude I've ever met! I mean, we even actually got to go to the movies together – in broad daylight! Which was an experience in itself!"

David Guetta collaborated with Akon in Sexy Bitch, a first house track by Akon, and has been a "summer anthem" across the globe. Reaching #1 in more than 6 countries, and charting at 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 , it is featured on Guetta's One Love album. Which has made it his 19th Top 20 hit worldwide.

2010–present: Akonic

It was announced in late 2009 that Akon's fourth studio album, Akonic, was set for release in the first quarter of 2010. However, following managerial commitments to other artists, work on the album has not been completed. It was suggested that this would push the album's release back to 2011. However, this was proven false as the album will actually be released on November 29, 2010. Akon had also stated that the title of the album may change between now and that time, since originally it was titled "Stadium Music" or "Stadium". Two tracks from the album have been leaked onto the web - "Nosy Neighbour", which was suggested for the lead single, and "Party Animal", both of which have been produced by David Guetta. The album's lead single, "Angel", was released to US radio stations on September 14, 2010. and was released as a single on September 27, 2010.

Featured projects

In 2006, Akon started his new record label Kon Live Distribution under Interscope Records. His first signed artist was Ray Lavender.

He was featured on Gwen Stefani's latest album, The Sweet Escape. He made an appearance on the title track and second single, "The Sweet Escape." Akon produced the song. On December 10, 2006, Akon and Stefani appeared as musical guests on Saturday Night Live, however they did not perform the song as Stefani had not yet learned the lyrics. He performed the song live, however, on American Idol on March 28, 2007 due to Gwen Stefani's appearance as a coach the night before. "The Sweet Escape" has reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Akon collaborated with Chamillionaire on his mixtape, Mixtape Messiah 2, featuring on the track “Ridin' Overseas” which he also produced. The mixtape was available for download on Chamillionaire's website from December 24, 2006.

In 2006, after their 2005 Akon-produced single, "Soul Survivor," the duo of Akon and Young Jeezy said that there is a lot more to expect from them in the future. The pair announced there are currently plans for a collaborative album. Akon also appeared on Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's album Strength and Loyalty and Three 6 Mafia's eighth studio album, Last 2 Walk, We The Best by DJ Khaled, Fabolous's album, From Nothin' to Somethin', with 50 Cent on some tracks for Curtis, T.I.'s 5th album, T.I. vs. T.I.P., Mario's third solo album Go!, and produced with Daddy Yankee" in the song called "Bring It On" on the album called which was released on June 5, 2007.

On July 7, 2007 Akon performed at the American leg of Live Earth.

In November 2007, Akon recorded a remix of "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" with Michael Jackson. In February 2008, the remix was released on the 25th anniversary rerelease of Michael Jackson's Thriller. Akon produced the track entitled "Echo" on Latin Boy band Menudo's latest album, released in the spring of 2008.

‘Konvict Music’ would be responsible for the re-release of Kat Deluna’s debut album 9 Lives (album) which would feature Akon on the single "Am I Dreaming."

In July 2008 a song called "Hold My Hand" circulated the internet. The song is an R&B; duet/collaboration between Michael Jackson and Akon, composed by Claude Kelly. There also exists another version featuring only Akon. It was not included in the track list for Freedom as Akon previously stated. During an interview with Tavis Smiley, Akon said that Jackson had planned on a high-profile release including a music video until the track had leaked. This is Jackson's last known song before he died on June 25, 2009. Recently, Akon has finished work on the song and it will included on the upcoming posthumous album, Michael. The song itself was released as a single on November 15, 2010.

Akon was also the executive producer of Kardinal Offishall's fourth solo album Not 4 Sale, released September 9, 2008. The promo single "Graveyard Shift" features Akon as does the first single "Dangerous", which peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, and won the award for Single of the Year at the 2009 Juno Awards.

Akon co-wrote and recorded "Put It on My Tab" with New Kids on the Block for their 2008 reunion album The Block.

Akon co-wrote and produced Leona Lewis' hit record Forgive Me, off her debut album Spirit.

He is currently working with X Factor 2008 winner Alexandra Burke on her upcoming debut album.

Akon co-wrote Kon Live artist Lady Gaga's worldwide hit "Just Dance", which also featured Colby O'Donis, and which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Recording at the 51st Grammy Awards.

Flo Rida’s new album R.O.O.T.S. features Akon on the track “Available”.

Akon has recorded a song with E-40 titled "Wake It Up" for E-40's album, The Ball Street Journal. Akon experiments with the auto-tune effect in the song.

Rap singer Nelly confirmed that Akon, Pharrell, and T-Pain have talked about forming a rap supergroup in 2009. Akon and Konvict Muzik are also producing hip hop/rock group Flipsyde's 2009 release, State of Survival, which will be released via Kon Live Distribution and Cherrytree Records. Akon worked with Whitney Houston for her 2009 comeback album I Look to You. He appears on the track "Like I Never Left".

In May 2009, Akon collaborated with Taiwanese artist 潘瑋柏 (Wilber Pan) and released another version of the song, Be With You.

Akon worked with bachata group Aventura and Reggaeton duo Wisin y Yandel on All Up 2 You the second single from Aventura's album The Last that dropped in June. The song received two nominations at the Premios Lo Nuestro 2010 for "Urban Song of the Year" and "Video Collaboration of the Year".

Akon recently signed Jayko, a Hispanic R&B; and Reggaeton artist, to his label and is working with him on his debut album titled "Marcando Territorio"

Sexy Bitch was released in July 2009, a collaboration with French DJ David Guetta.

In August 2009, Akon released another version of Beautiful featuring BoA, a popular and legendary Korean singer. However, this version was for the Japanese market.

Akon also sang in a song with Colby O'Donis called "What You Got".

In 2009 Akon collaborated with Pitbull on the single "Shut It Down" from the album "Rebelution".

Akon worked to help Matisyahu remix his single "One Day" on his album Light.

In 2010 Akon collaborated with up and coming pop singer JRandall on a song entitled ''oo la la" which premiered on JustJared.com on October 6.

In 2010 he is one of over 70 artists singing on "", a charity single in aid of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. He also entered into the Indian market, working with composers Vishal Dadlani and Shekhar Ravjiani on the soundtrack to the Bollywood action film Ra.One.

Akon co-produced Natalia Kills' first single, Mirrors, from her forthcoming debut album, Perfectionist.

Other ventures

Television and film

Akon has confirmed that a reality television show is in the works. It will be called "My Brother's Keeper" and the point is that Akon's two nearly identical brothers will go around in Atlanta posing as him fooling people into thinking that it is in fact Akon. They will try to get VIP treatment, girls and free things. Akon has claimed that people have mistaken his brothers for him many times in Atlanta which is what the show is based on.

Akon is planning to work on a full-length movie titled Illegal Alien. The film is based on some of the events of his life and actor Mekhi Phifer is set to play him. Besides Akon confirmed in August 2007, in the interview with Polish website INTERIA.PL, that he works on a movie "Cocaine Cowboys," which tells the story of Jon Roberts, the main pilot of Medellin Cartel (Colombian drug traffickers). He was also featured on a Verizon Wireless commercial and singing Snitch along with Obie Trice on a episode named "Poppin' Tags."

On November 30, 2007, Akon entered the Big Brother house in Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition 2 as a guest so the housemates can meet him for only 100 seconds. He also appeared on November 17, 2008 edition of WWE Raw, with Santino Marella citing him in his speech. Because of Santino's Italian Stereotyping, he mispronounced Akon's name to "Akorn".

On April 27, 2008, Akon appeared with Colby O'Donis in Dance on Sunset. On January 27, 2010, Akon performed on the Brazilian reality show Big Brother Brasil.

Fashion

In February 2007, Akon launched his clothing line, Konvict Clothing. It features urban streetwear including denim jeans, hoodies, t-shirts and hats. Aliaune is the upscale version, or high-end line, for males and females, which includes blazers, denim jeans and other items. Timothy Hodge appeared on MTV's Direct Effect alongside Akon while promotioning the Konvict clothing line.

Personal life

He has also been rumored to have three wives, however he has since revealed that he only has one, named Tomeka. Akon claims he has six children with three different women in an interview with Blender. Akon claims to have great relationships with all his children, and that he wishes to keep his family protected from the public eye. He also states that his religion made him a better person, and provides guidance to how he acts among others in life.

He also has his own charity for underprivileged children in Africa called Konfidence Foundation. Akon owns a diamond mine in South Africa and denies the existence of blood diamonds (also known as "conflict diamonds") saying, "I don't believe in conflict diamonds. That's just a movie. Think about it. Nobody thought or cared about conflict diamonds until 'Blood Diamond' was released." However, he has since stated that he does accept that blood diamonds exist, and that he is partial-owner of an African mine that is dedicated to avoiding use of blood diamonds while also donating profits to local communities.

"The Smoking Gun" reported in April 2008 that much of Akon's purported criminal and incarceration history has been dramatically embellished. In particular, Akon's claims to be part of an auto-theft ring and his claim to have spent three years in prison were challenged with court records and interviews with detectives involved in Akon's case. According to "The Smoking Gun's" article, Akon was not convicted of any crime and did not serve any time in prison from 1999 to 2002 as previously claimed. He stated that "The Smoking Gun's" attempt to “discredit” him “makes no sense as it is something he is trying to forget.” Akon retorted that he never spent 3 years in prison consecutively, but many shorter sentences that add up to three years, and cites that as the mis-understanding by The Smoking Gun's article.

Legal difficulties

In April 2007, Akon drew criticism for an onstage act which included simulated sex with Danah (Deena) Alleyne, a preacher's daughter aged 15 at the time, at a club in Trinidad and Tobago, as part of a fake contest, despite the club's claim to have a 21 years and over age limit. The incident was filmed by Akon's crew and later uploaded to the Internet. On April 20, 2007 local media, channel TV6, aired the video clip publicly. Amid criticism on the radio, television, and from the blogosphere, Verizon Wireless removed ringtones featuring Akon's songs. Verizon also decided not to sponsor The Sweet Escape Tour where Akon was to be the opening act for Gwen Stefani. However, Universal Music Group did not take action against Akon, but rather simply ordered the video clip be removed from video-sharing site YouTube due to copyright infringement. Conservative commentator and Parents Television Council founder Brent Bozell called this "corporate irresponsibility."

Political commentators Michelle Malkin, Laura Ingraham, and Bill O'Reilly criticized Akon for "degrading women." Malkin uploaded commentary about Akon to YouTube, using footage from music videos and the Trinidad concert, and Universal Music Group then forced its removal by issuing a DMCA takedown notice. The Electronic Frontier Foundation joined Malkin in contesting the removal as a misuse of copyright law, citing fair use. In May 2007, UMG rescinded its claim to the video, and the video returned to YouTube.

On June 3, 2007, at WSPK's KFEST concert at the Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, New York, a concert attendee threw an object towards Akon on stage. Akon asked the crowd to identify who threw the object and that he be brought on stage. Security staff grabbed the young man and took him up to the stage. Akon then pulled him up from the crowd and hoisted him across his shoulders. The singer then tossed the attendee back into the crowd from his shoulders. Video of the incident was reviewed by Fishkill police. Akon has claimed that the incident was staged and that he in fact used the act to set up for the next record.

Visa Issue

March 23, 2010 – Considering the allegations against the singer Akon, the Sri Lankan Government has decided not to issue him a visa to enter into Sri Lanka, the Government Information Department said a short while ago. The Jathika Bhikku Sansadaya (National Monks' Association) earlier today said that they vehemently protested the planned concert of Akon claiming that his music video insulted Buddhism.

Discography

Trouble (2004)

Konvicted (2006)

Freedom (2008)

Akonic (2011)

Awards and nominations

Name	Akon
Awards	1
Nominations	12
Americanw	1
Americann	3
Grammyn	5
Mtvvideon	4

Akon received four Grammy Award nominations in 2008, including Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for "The Sweet Escape" with Gwen Stefani, Best R&B; Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for "Bartender" with T-Pain, Best Contemporary R&B; Album for Konvicted, and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration with "I Wanna Love You" with Snoop Dogg. The only award that Akon has received is Favorite Soul/R&B; Male Artist from the American Music Awards in 2007. Overall, Akon has received one award from twelve nominations.

American Music Awards

The American Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony created by Dick Clark in 1973. Akon has received one award from three nominations.

|- |rowspan="3"| ||rowspan="3"| Akon || Favorite Soul/R&B; Male Artist || |- | Artist of the Year || |- | Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist ||

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States. Akon has received five nominations.

|- | || "Smack That" (with Eminem) || Best Rap/Sung Collaboration || |- |rowspan="4"| || "The Sweet Escape" (with Gwen Stefani) || Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals || |- | "Bartender" (with T-Pain) || Best R&B; Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group || |- | Konvicted || Best Contemporary R&B; Album || |- | "I Wanna Love You" (with Snoop Dogg) || Best Rap/Sung Collaboration ||

MTV Video Music Awards

The MTV Video Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony established in 1984 by MTV. Akon has received four nominations. Akon has the record for most nominations in the Most Earthshattering Collaboration category.

|- | || "Locked Up" || MTV2 Award || |- |rowspan="3"| || Akon || Male Artist of the Year || |- | "Smack That" (with Eminem) || Most Earthshattering Collaboration || |- | "The Sweet Escape" (with Gwen Stefani) || Most Earthshattering Collaboration ||

World Music Awards

In 2007 Akon won three World Music Awards:

(1) Best Selling R&B; Male Artist

(2) Best Selling African Artist

(3) Best Selling Internet Artist.

In 2008 Akon won:

(1) Best Selling African Artist

Note: Akon also won Artist Of The Year in 2007 by the Billboard Music Awards

Billboard Legacy

Made the Top Artists of the Year Chart in: 2009

Made the Billboard 200 Albums of the Year Chart in: 2009, 2007, 2005, 2004

Made the Billboard Hot 100 Songs of the Year Chart in: 2005, 2004

Premios Lo Nuestro

|- |rowspan="2"| 2010 || "All Up 2 You" (with Aventura and Wisin & Yandel) || Urban Song of the Year || |- | "All Up 2 You" (with Aventura and Wisin & Yandel) || Video Collaboration of the Year || |-

Tours

Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania One-off Concert (2006).

Konvicted Tour (July to September 2007, then additional dates in 2008)

The Sweet Escape Tour with Gwen Stefani (April to July 2007)

The Good Girl Gone Bad Tour with Rihanna (Canadian-leg only, September – December 2008).

Konvict Muzik Tour with T-Pain, Australia only, October 26–27, 2009.

Brazilian Mini-Tour, (Brazil, January 2010)

References

External links

Official website

Category:1990s singers Category:2000s singers Category:2010s singers Category:African American singers Category:African American rappers Category:African American Muslims Category:American Muslims Category:American male singers Category:Dance musicians Category:Hip hop record producers Category:Hip hop singers Category:Musicians from New Jersey Category:Musicians from Missouri Category:Rappers from St. Louis, Missouri Category:People from Dakar Category:People from Newark, New Jersey Category:People from St. Louis, Missouri Category:American people of Senegalese descent Category:American hip hop record producers Category:Sony/ATV Music Publishing artists Category:World Music Awards winners Category:Living people Category:Senegalese expatriates in the United States Category:1973 births