Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday mourned the passing of singer Hany Shaker, who died earlier that day after receiving medical treatment in Paris.
On Facebook, Sisi wrote: “I extend my deepest condolences to the Egyptian people and lovers of authentic art on the death of the artist Hany Shaker, who enriched the world of music with his most beautiful artistic creations on all national, social, and humanitarian occasions, thanks to his distinctive voice and refined performance.”
The family of Shaker announced his death on Sunday after a period of illness that had prompted him to travel to Paris for treatment.
His health deteriorated, and he suffered severe respiratory issues in his final days.
The Prince of Arab Song
Shaker was one of the most prominent stars of Egyptian and Arab music, and he is known as the Prince of Arab Song.
His repertoire of over 600 songs enriched the Arab music library, and he had released 29 albums.
He assumed the position of Head of the Egyptian Musicians Syndicate in 2015.
During his tenure, he implemented several measures and decisions aimed at regulating and developing the artistic scene, including combating the use of offensive language in songs.
During his storied artistic career, Shaker received many local and international honors and awards, including the Order of Merit of the First Class from Tunisia, and the Jerusalem Medal from the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.
In addition, he had been honored at many festivals and cultural events inside and outside Egypt.
