Kadim Al Sahir
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In 2008, Morrissey was said to be looking to play in Iran.
From the NME at the time:
The ex-Smiths frontman has expressed an interest in playing a date in the country’s capital Tehran this June, ideally with the Arab pop singer Kazem al-Sahir. According to The Independent, the singer’s management are currently awaiting a formal response from Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance."
The source of this information appears to be Merck Mercuriadis, who is more fully quoted in The Independent("Heaven knows I'm Middle Eastern now" - January 7, 2008):
"It's a major priority for us"
"One way or another we will tour the Middle East – in terms of places like Jerusalem and Beirut. And we hope to play Iran."
Of Al Sahir, Mercuriadis added: "He's a hero for Morrissey and Morrissey admires his work."
Wikipedia Information
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Kadim Jabbar Al Samarai (born 12 September 1957), better known by his stage name Kadim Al Sahir (Arabic: كاظم الساهر), is an Iraqi singer and composer. Dubbed The Caesar, he has earned numerous local, regional, and international awards. One of the most famous singers in the Arab world, Al-Sahir has sold more than 100 million albums and written more than 40 hit songs, including "Ana Wa Layla" (Me and Layla), "Salamtak Men Al Ah" (Get Well Soon) and "La Titnahad" (Don’t Sigh). In 1980, Al-Sahir started teaching music. Two years later, he pursued studies at the Institute of Music of Baghdad. By 1988, he gained popularity in many Arab countries with compositions such as "Ladghat El-Hayya" and "Abart El-Shat". His musical career was hindered by the outbreak of the Gulf War in 1990. After leaving Iraq, his songs and titles championed the Iraqi people while they lived under Saddam Hussein's rule and Western sanctions. In 2011, he was named a goodwill ambassador by the UNICEF. Al-Sahir has performed a wide range of Arabic music from pop to classical and singing in most Arabic dialects. His music is known for fusing traditional Arabic melodies with diverse international music forms. He has collaborated with international stars such as Quincy Jones, Sarah Brightman, Lenny Kravitz, and had frequent partnerships with the revered Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani. His romantic poetry in music has established him as a cultural icon. He appeared as a judge in the television show The Voice: Ahla Sawt from 2012 to 2015, alongside Assi El Hallani, Sherine, and Saber Rebai. In 2020, he appeared on the frontpage of Vogue Man Arabia.
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