Sarbel
Background information
Birth name	Charbel Michael
Also known as	Sarbel
Born	(1983-05-14) 14 May 1983 (age 29) Southgate, London, England
Origin	Lebanese & Greek
Genres	Pop, modern laika
Labels	Sony Music Greece (2004-2008) 4Music (2009-2011) HoneyBel Music (2011 - present)
Website	http://www.sarbel.com/

Sarbel Michael (Greek: Σαρμπέλ Μιχαήλ) (Template:Lang-aramaic) (born 14 May 1983) known professionally as Sarbel, is a Greek Cypriot pop singer of partial Cypriot and Lebanese ancestry. He is well known in Cyprus, Greece and parts of the Arab world for his debut single, "Se pira sovara", and his subsequent albums Parakseno sinesthima, Sahara and Kati san esena. Ηe represented Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 with "Yassou Maria" which peaked at number one in Cyprus and Greece^{[citation needed]}, and appeared on the UK Singles Chart^{[citation needed]}.

Biography[link]

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (April 2008)

Early life[link]

Sarbel Michael was born and raised in Southgate, London, England, to a Cypriot father, Elias, himself a singer and bouzouki player, and a Lebanese Maronite mother, a lawyer. Sarbel's family made frequent summer trips to Greece and Cyprus. He received a Jesuit education at St Ignatius' College in Enfield. Sarbel studied music (voice), drama, and performing arts. From the age of 5 to 16 he performed at the English National Opera and the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and has recorded Tosca in English for Chandos Recordings as the shepherd boy.^[1]

He was named after the Maronite Saint Charbel and his name is correctly pronounced "Sharbel", but since standard Greek lacks a "sh" sound, it is pronounced "Sarbel" according to the Greek transliteration ("Σαρμπέλ").

Sarbel sang yearly at St Ignatius and other talent shows.

Music career[link]

At the age of 18 Sarbel went to Crete, where he sang at the Heraklion Palladium.^[2] At the age of 21, still living on the Greek island of Crete, he was signed on by Sony BMG (Greece) on a six-year recording contract.

[edit] 2004-2005: Parakseno sinesthima (Παράξενο Συναίσθημα)

He shot into the limelight in 2004, when he recorded the oriental hit "Se pira sovara" featuring Greek singerIrini Merkouri, which first introduced the young singer to fans in Greece, but also across the Middle East (especially Cyprus and Lebanon)^{[citation needed]}. ^[3] The song is based on an Arabic song called "Sidi Mansour" by Saber Rebaï. On the same CD (a CD single) he released a second duet with Merkouri called "Agapi Mou Esi". In 2005, he released his first solo album, entitled Parakseno sinesthima (in Greek Παράξενο συναίσθημα). This album went Gold and was re-released with the Wella-sponsored song "Thelo na Petaxo" and a bonus track of "Boro Boro", which he made famous during his MAD Award Ceremony appearance. The songs "Se Pira Sovara", "Sokolata", and "Thelo Na Petakso" are some of his notable songs.

[edit] 2006: Sahara

In July 2006, he released his second album, Sahara. That same year he recorded a duet with Greek singer Natassa Theodoridou called Na' Soun Thalassa which was also included as a bonus song on the album. Some of his notable songs are Taxe Mou, Sahara and Enas Apo Mas.

[edit] 2007: Eurovision and Sahara: Euro Edition

Sarbel at the Eurovision Song Contest 2007.

Sarbel at the Eurovision Song Contest 2007.

Seeing his growing popularity, Greek television ERT asked Sarbel to compete for a ticket to represent Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest in Helsinki, Finland. Sarbel had to compete against established singer Christos Dantis and fellow newcomer singer Tamta. Sarbel enlisted the help of popular Greek-Swedish composers Alex Papacostantinou, Marcus Englof, and Mack to write his song, who are responsible for many of popular Greek singer Elena Paparizou's hits. They wrote the song Yassou Maria, which is performed in English with only the word 'ya sou' (and the name 'Maria') being Greek. There is also a version released in a mix of Greek and English.

On February 28, 2007, Sarbel performed the song live against the 2 singers for the ticket. Although the performance had some sound problems, the went on to receive 39.69% of the combined televotes and jury votes, winning the contest.

In an interview in March 2007, Sarbel made it clear that he doesn't want an international career by saying "I don't care either being famous abroad or starting an international career. I only care for Greece. I grew up abroad but choose to live in Greece. I can't tell you whether Eurovision helps my career or not, because I don't know. It's very dangerous. However, it is an experience I want to live. I want to have fun in the Contest and do my best.".^[4] Following the win, Sarbel toured Europe to promote his song. He also filmed the video clip for the song and changed the scene performance around a bit. The song eventually placed 7th at the Eurovision Song Contest 2007.

On 12 March 2007, Sahara was re-released as Sahara: Euro Edition and feature the Yassou Maria CD Single as a bonus. The CD single for Yassou Maria was released on 7 March 2007. The CD single includes Yassou Maria, Yassou Maria (Greeklish version), Enas Apo Mas (Special Holiday Mix) and a duet with Persian singer Cameron Cartio called Mi Chica. Mi Chica is recorded in a mixture of Greek, English, Spanish and Persian and is Latin in style with Greek pop elements.

[edit] 2008-Present: Kati san esena

Sarbel started singing at Votanikos club in Athens, at 2008, along with Natassa Theodoridou and Nikos Kourkoulis.^[5]

The new single "Eho Trelathei" was introduced at the Greek National Final 2008 on ERT.^[6] It is a blend of oriental elements with the main chorus being rock. This was followed by the release of the album Kati san esena.

To promote his new album amongst his fellow Londoners, he performed at the two day Cyprus Wine Festival of London in 2008. Sarbel felt that "My performance at the Cyprus Wine Festival (in London) is my chance to give something back to my community." And both performances brought tears to his friend's and family's eyes that still live in London.^[7]

In July 2009, Sarbel released a two track CD-single titled "Mou Pai" under his new signing with E.DI.EL record label. The second track on the CD called "So Perfect" is a song written by Sarbel.

Sarbel has announced the beginning of his winter tour with three concerts performing alongside Giorgos Mazonakis in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide in Australia. He will also be performing two more solo concerts in Australia on New Year's Eve and New Years Day. In October 2010 he toured Egypt and plans to stay in Athens for Christmas and New Year after which he has a concert in Vietnam.

He is also currently working in the studio recording songs for a new CD album to be released in the Spring of 2011. The first single from this CD Album was released in March 2011 entitled Kafto Kalokairi and Sarbel sang the single for the first time live at the Pavilion on the 18th March 2011 in front of a packed house.

Following the worldwide success of the new single, in early May Sarbel released the official Video Clip for the song which was filmed with the sponsorship of Louis Cruises. Some of the filming actually took place in the engine room of the popular Cruise Ship Cristall!

Sarbel has been booked to sing with the famous Greek Folk Singer Glykeria for this year's Cyprus Wine Festival at Alexander Palace on 25 and 26 June 2011. Both singers are being brought back by popular demand and the event is expected to be a complete sell out.

ON THE 11.11.11 Sarbel released his new single Pou Na Girnas penned by the famous Greek composer Alexis Serkos. The video clip was released in conjunction with single to launch Sarbel's winter tour of Canada the U.S and Saudi Arabia.

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

All the albums listed underneath were released and charted in Greece and Cyprus.

CD Singles[link]

Full singles discography[link]

• 2004: "Se pira sovara"
• 2005: "Sokolata"
• 2005: "Thelo na petaxo"
• 2006: "Sahara"
• 2006: "Takse mou"
• 2006: "Enas apo mas"
• 2007: "Yassou Maria"
• 2008: "Eho trelathei"
• 2009: "Mou pai"
• 2011: "Kafto Kalokairi"
• 2011: "Pou Na Girnas"

Music videos[link]

• 2004: "Se pira sovara"
• 2005: "Sokolata"
• 2005: "Thelo na petaxo"
• 2005: "Boro Boro/Chiculata" (Mad Music Awards) [Ft. Chrispa]
• 2006: "Thriller"/"Pano stin trella mou" (Mad Music Awards) [Ft. Vanesa Adamopoulou]
• 2006: "Taxe mou"
• 2006: "Enas apo mas"
• 2007: "Yassou Maria" (ERT Promo Video)
• 2007: "Yassou Maria" (Official Video Clip)
• 2008: "Eho trelathei"
• 2009: "Mou paei"
• 2011: "Monaxa esy"
• 2011: "Kafto Kalokairi"
• 2011: "Pou Na Girnas"

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official site
• MySpace (1)
• Myspace (2)
• International Sarbel Fan-Club
• Greek-English Fan Site
• International Sarbel Forum
• Polish Fan Club

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (May 2010)

Cameron Cartio
Birth name	Kamran Sabahi
Also known as	Cameron
Born	(1978-04-09) April 9, 1978 (age 34)
Origin	Iran
Genres	Pop, Persian / Middle Eastern music
Occupations	Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer
Instruments	Vocals, Guitar
Years active	2005 – present
Labels	Universal Music Group Taraneh Records Sherfa Music
Associated acts	Alec Cartio
Website	Official Site

Kamran Sabahi better known by his stage name Cameron Cartio (Persian: کامرون کارتيو‎), born on 9 April 1978) is an Iranian-born Swedish pop singer and songwriter. Being signed to Sony Music, he released his debut album Borderless in 2005. Cameron is now signed to Taraneh Records and Sherfa Music and has a publishing deal with Universal Music Group and is working on his second untitled release album. He remains popular in Iran, Sweden, the Arab World as well as in the Iranian diaspora.

Beginnings[link]

Cameron Cartio was born Alireza Sabahi in Tehran, to Iranian parents of mixed Turkish/Russian descent on April 9, 1978. His father, Motaleb Sabahi, was an electrical engineer involved in airplanes and his mother Hajar Bazm was a hairstylist. His great grandfather was a Russian immigrant who had fled communist Soviet Union to Iran and settled down in Tehran in the early 1930s. At eight years old, Cameron's family left Tehran to spend a year in Barcelona, after which they moved to Malmö in southern Sweden. Cartio and his family ended up residing in Rosengård.

Cartio's older brother, Alec Cartio is a well known Iranian film and commercial director with many music videos including those of Cameron Cartio.

Career[link]

Cameron Cartio started his music career in Sweden. He speaks and sings in different languages, including Persian, English, and Spanish; the latter was learned in Spain where he lived for some time. Coming from an artistic family certainly helped as well in his musical career. His brother Alec Cartio, is a music producer and music video director.

Cameron Cartio made his debut in Melodifestivalen 2005 with his song "Roma". It made it to the Top 5 of the Swedish music charts peaking at #4 (April 2005).^[1] The lyrics of "Roma" were written in a conlang, a made-up language by Cameron Cartio, "borderless language of love" as he calls it. He also made a Spanish language version of the same song.

He followed "Roma" with his first studio album Borderless that includes notably, besides "Roma" a duo featuring rai singer Khaled. The song entitled "Henna" is in Arabic and again in Cartio's conlang. Cameron and Khaled also released an Arabic/Spanish version on a maxi CD for Spain in 2006. His song "Henna" (partly in Arabic) and his collaboration with Cheb Khaled made him popular throughout the Arab World. He also found success with the catchy hit "Ni Na Nay". The bilingual English/Spanish "Don't Tell Me Tonight" a song with Edurne made it to the Top 40 on the Greek radio charts.

He is now signed with Universal Music Group, Sherfa Music and Taraneh Records. In 2011, he has released a dance hit "Electric", a Persian language cover of Melody Club song.^[2] and is working on a new second album after Borderless.

Collaborations[link]

• In his 2006 hit "Henna" that Cartio wrote for his ex-girlfriend, he collaborated in the song with Cheb Khaled making two different versions of the video with different themes, but both featuring the famous Algerian-French rai star.
• Another collaboration was with the Lebanese-Greek Cypriot Sarbel in "Mi Chica" a simultaneous double hit for Sarbel in Greek featuring Cameron Cartio (in Persian) and a separate hit for Cameron Cartio version all in Persian.
• Under the name Cameron, he released "You Keep Me Hanging On" produced by Anders Nyman, Cameron Cartio, Robin Rex. The release also included "You Keep Me Hanging On (Remix)" produced by Cameron Cartio himself^[3]
• Cartio's English language hit "Don't Tell Me Tonight" features Spanish pop singer Edurne

Discography[link]

• 2006: Borderless

Singles[link]

• 2005: "Roma" (for Melodifestivalen)
• 2005: "Henna" (with Khaled)
• 2006: "Henna" (Spanish Version with Khaled)
• 2006: "Barone"
• 2006: "Ni Na Nay"
• 2007: "Mi Chica"
• 2011: "Electric"
• 2011: "Bia Nazdiktar"
• 2012: "Sheytoonaki" (Feat Maria Manson)