Omar Khorshid & His Magic Guitar

Bio:

Omar Khorshid was born in Egypt in 1945. He was enamored with music from an early age, his first instruments being piano and violin. When first introduced to the guitar, he found it was too big of an instrument for his slim frame and didn’t feel comfortable with it. Eventually he revisited the guitar and never turned back. After a few years of playing parties and small clubs, he was invited by Abdel Halim Hafez to play electric guitar with his Oriental Orchestra. He then hooked up with Oum Kalsoum and her orchestra. In 1973 he moved to Lebanon where he began making his own records and this continued until 1981. It’s not exactly clear how many records Omar made. We’ve been able to track down nine “official” full-length releases. He was also an actor, starring in several Egyptian, Lebanese, and Syrian films in the 1970s and early 1980s. It is believed that he composed music for over 40 films. It seems that these soundtracks are not available, though it’s very possible that there may be dusty old cassettes of some of these recordings still scattered around the back alleys of Cairo, Beirut, or Damascus. Omar was tragically killed in a car accident in 1981. He was 36 years old. We are currently trying to gather as much information on Omar as we can. When we find it and verify it, we will list it on this site. Below is a new video of Omar in color, from the film Guitar al-Hob, without the cheesy effects from the clip that was on here previously.

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Member Since:

October 08, 2008

Members:

We know of his direct involvement with Oum Khoulsoum (yes, there are dozens of ways to spell her name) Hafez, and other legendary singers, but the names of Omar's bandmates in his different groups over the years are not readily known. We presently have a few names we are trying to verify and confirm. If anybody has ANY information please let us know through this site and we will make the information available.

Below is a partial list of films that Omar was involved in. He may have composed music for ALL of these films but we are currently unable to verify this. We have listed him as composer on those films which have been confirmed. Reliable information is very difficult to come by. If you have any further info, please send it along. Thanks.

OMAR KHORSHID FILMS:

Ebnati al Aziza (My Dearest Daugther) – Egypt, 1971, Actor, Composer

Shelet al Mohtalin (Swindler’s Gang) – Egypt, 1972, Composer

Azzm Tefl fi Alamm (Greatest Child in the World) – Lebanon, 1972, Actor

Thlath Fatyat Morhkat (Three Teenage Girls) – 1973, Actor

Guitar al Hob (Guitar of Love) – Lebanon, 1973, Actor, Composer

Endma Yghani al Hob (When Love Sings) – Egypt, 1973, Actor

Rehlet al Agayeb (Wondrous Journey) – Egypt, 1974, Composer

Hata Akhr el Omrr (Till the End of Time) – Egypt, 1974, Actor

Saydti al Gamila (My Fair Lady) – Lebanon, 1975, Actor

Shfah la Tarf al Kezb (Lips Don’t Lie) – 1976, Actor

Amot Wa Ahbk Martin (To Die and Love You Twice) – Syria, 1976, Actor

Al Dunia Ngham (The World is a Melody) – Syria/Lebanon, 1977, Actor

Wa Sakatat Fe Bahr el-Asal (Sunken in the Honey Sea) – Egypt, 1977, Composer

Rehla Dakhel Emraa (Journey Inside a Woman) – Egypt, 1978, Composer

Al Ashkeka (The Lover) – Egypt, 1979, Actor

Dumoh Fi Lelit Zezaf (Tears on the Wedding Night) – Egypt, 1980

Al Arafaa (The Fortune Teller) – Egypt, 1981

Influences:

Farid El Atrache, Abdel Halim Hafez, Oum Kolthoum, Rahbani Brothers, Mohamed Abdel Wahab, Sayad Derwiche, Samir El Tawil, Mohamed El Mouggi, and other masters from the Middle East.

Record Label:

Voice of Lebanon, Voix d' Orient