Omm Kalthum (1910-1975), an Egyptian singer, was one of the most popular performers of her time. She dazzled audiences with the range and power of her voice. She earned great wealth from her music but lived modestly. Omm Kalthum gave generously to the poor people of Egypt, the class into which she had been born.
Ibrahim Omm Kalthum was born in a poor village of the Nile Delta in Egypt. Her name is also spelled many different ways, including Om Kalthum, Oum Koulsoum, Um Kalthum, and Umm Kulthum. Omm Kalthum received a traditional religious education. While she was still a child, her teachers recognized that she had an outstanding musical talent. She moved to Cairo and changed from religious music to popular music. Omm Kalthum became famous as a teen-ager. By the time she was in her twenties, she was a nationally recognized figure in Egypt. She died in Cairo on Feb. 3, 1975. Her death was an occasion of national mourning, and her funeral resembled those given to the heads of countries.
