Mohammed Abdu
Mohammed Abdu (born on June 12, 1949) is a Saudi singer and composer. He was also known as "Abu Noura" and nicknamed "Artist of the Arabs." He began his singing career in the early 1960s, performing at concerts and festivals inside and outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including a London concert in 1997. He composed and sang "Fawka Ham al-Sahab" , one of the famous Saudi patriotic songs.
Life of Mohammed Abdu
He was born in ad-Darb Governorate in Jazan Province, southwest of the Kingdom. His father died when he was two and a half years old, and he grew up with his mother. At the age of three years, he moved with her to Jeddah Governorate, where he spent a period of his childhood in Ribat Khairy in Old Jeddah, specifically in Harat al-Yemen.
Mohammed Abdu practiced several jobs at a young age, including assistant mail distributor. He began his participation in radio in 1961 and continued until 1963. He recorded a number of records and played a role in the radio's theater.
Beginnings of Mohammed Abdu
At the beginning of his career, he released the song "al-Ramsh al-Tawil", which helped him distribute thousands of records. He also composed many songs. His song "Khalas Da'it Amanina" was one of his first tunes. In the 1970s, he released a "Mukahbala" song in "al-Rasayel". Mohammed Abdu mastered a number of singing styles, and sang a number of songs that are still trending, including: "Hadithina ya Rawabi Najd," "Bint al-Nour," "Majmouat Insan," "Ala al-Bal," and "Laylat Khamis."
Mohammed Abdu's singing contributions
He was influenced by Umm Kulthum's singing and style. For about thirty years, he participated in the operetta of the National Festival of Heritage and Culture “al-Janadriya” by composing and singing songs. He attended most national forums and events, and offered about two hundred national works, including "Fawka Ham al-Sahab," "Ajal Nahnou al-Hijaz," and "Min Badina Mouwahadin."
Poets with whom Mohammed Abdu collaborated
Mohammed Abdu collaborated with a number of poets, including: Badr Shakir al-Sayyab with his poem "Ounchoudat al-Matar". He also handled several songs by Ibrahim Khafaji, including "Lana Allah," and sang many of Prince Badr Bin Abdulmohsen's poems, such as "Ya Markab al-Hind." He collaborated with Prince Khalid al-Faisal by singing his poem "Min Badi al-Waqt," and other poems by Prince Abdulrahman Bin Musa'id, such as "Mouthila", in addition to Tahir Zamakhshari with "Ya Aathaba al-Hobb", along with a number of poems. He also sang poems by Saudi poet Thuraya Qabel.
Honoring Mohammed Abdu
Mohammed Abdu was honored several times, such as during the 2022 Riyadh Season in the “Arab Artist Night." The Ministry of Media also honored him as part of the Media Excellence Award in its third edition in 2023, as it created a category for figures who contributed and influenced the Saudi media. Moreover, Royal Court Advisor Turki Al al-Sheikh honored him during the 2023 Riyadh Season and presented him with a record of pure gold on the Diamond Jubilee of Mohammed Abdu.