Cheb Jilani -- a singer with a Pan Arab following

At the tender age of 11, Hussein Jilani stood on a school stage, nervous and unsure of himself, as he sang “Al Hawa Ghallab” made popular by legendary Arabic singer Umm Kalthoum. Watched by his schoolmates and teachers, the young Jilani put up such a great performance that it became the talk of the whole school and community. It also made Jilani take music very seriously, at the cost of his other love, football. As time would show, football’s loss was music’s gain for Jilani had displayed as much passion for football as for music.

Hussein Jilani, who later adopted the stage name of Cheb, was born in Tripoli, Libya, in a family of musicians and artists. His father, Haj Jilani, was a highly talented and sensitive musician who was very selective in his music. It is not strange then that young Cheb Jilani inherited those qualities and began singing complex Arabic folk songs at a very early age.

Cheb Jilani first became popular in Libya with the powerful rendition of songs of legendary singers like Abdul Wahab, Umm Kalthum and Abdul Halim, a formidable feat for a young man. Music lovers were amazed by the versatility of his voice and the variations in his tone. It is usually considered extremely difficult to sing in the voice of such legendary singers, but Jilani proved that he had considerable talent for reproducing their voices and singing styles.

He mastered the “terza rima” (Mowshahat) classical style of singing, and began singing songs in different Arabic dialects, including Egyptian, Lebanese and Libyan. Versatility is Cheb Jilani’s forte. His new album features songs in the Libyan dialect as well as Egyptian, Lebanese and classical Arabic, presenting a tapestry of music that sounds similar but incorporates distinctive features that will be appreciated by audiences well versed with the nuances of each dialect.

Cheb Jilani completed his Masters in Music with distinction from the National Music Academy (Conservatoire), Tripoli, specializing in Oud and Oriental orchestration. He perfected his inherited musical talent by imbibing the music of the masters and exploring other musical instruments and styles. His first brush with fame came when he was ranked No. 2 at the Libyan Song Festival 2001.

The 27-year-old Libyan singer has since won a huge following with his unique brand of music that mixes the classical singing style with modern rhythms and an amazing ability to bridge the generation gap with his infectious music. This distinctive style has already earned him praise from numerous music maestros including Mulhim Barakat who described him as a singer with a “very precious and rare voice” and Hamid Al Shairi who commented that : “Cheb Jilani will create a revolution in the Arab music world.”

Already a star in Libya and North Africa, and having won several music awards he has become a sought-after performer across the Arab world and is the first Libyan singer to win admirers outside his country.  Judging by the pace at which his fame is growing, he is certainly destined to expand his musical horizons and become a leading name throughout the Arab music scene.

Cheb Jilani is also an accomplished composer and in his new album he has composed the music for three of the songs, breathing his soul into the compositions and taking the album to an awe-inspiring level.

But, for all his fame and popularity, Cheb Jilani has remained a simple and unassuming person and a gentleman to the core. Reserved and reticent, his passion is music and his philosophy humanity. Practical and down-to-earth it comes as no surprise that he is loved not just for his music but for his pleasing personality as well.  Cheb Jilani’s stunning new album “Oyouni Sahara” is released by EMI on January 30, 2003 and features the hits “Oyouni Sahara”, “Inti Ana”, “Sili Yal Anzar”, Loumek Ala Meen”, Bitaoul Niseet”, Rasayelha”, Habibi Fakkar Bighayri” and “Bitrouhi”.