His sister was also a skilled singer, though her career was cut tragically short by a controversial car accident. He is one of the most important names of twentieth century Arab music.
Farid was born to Syrian Druze nobility, the Atrache family, who led the Druze fight against both the Ottomans and the French Mandate in modern-day Syria and Lebanon. Farid El Atrache (1915-1974) (Arabic: ) was a Syrian-born Egyptian composer, singer, actor, and oud virtuoso.
