Umm Kulthum
Most revered among the artists of the classical-popular style is Umm Kulthum (1904–1975). During her childhood, Kulthum was recognized for her vocal talents in reciting Koranic verse. Her father, an imam, sometimes dressed her as a boy so that she could perform for men in private venues. In 1923, she moved to Cairo, Egypt, where she was befriended by the local literati, several of whom wrote poetry for her to sing. Her diction was considered to be near perfection and her powerful voice and ability to improvise in the Arabic modal style, known as maqam, endeared her to classically trained artists as well as the general population.