Riyad Al Sunbati

Riyad Al Sunbati (1906 - 1981) (other spellings: Riyad al-Sunbati, Riyad El Sunbati) is a famous egyptian oud (arabic lute) virtuoso and is also well known as a composer of many great, popular arabic songs. In his youth he became widely known (thanks to his oud and singing skills) as the "The Canary of Mansoura". Most of his work has done with the legendary Oum Kalthoum which he firstly met in 1922. Riyad wrote his first song in 1928 and laterly he moved to al Kahira (Cairo), and started to work as an oud teacher in a music school.