Kareem Salama
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Kareem Salama is known as the first Muslim country-western singer. His music is a product of the combination of his Islamic values and the passion for western country music. Salama was born to two Egyptian Muslim immigrants and was raised in Oklahoma and Texas where his parents settled [1]
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[edit] Music
Though a chemical engineer by training and a law degree candidate, Salama nonetheless creates time to practice music with his guitarist and producer, Aristotle Mihalopoulos. Salama claims that the melody associated with the recitations of the Holy Qur’an inspired him to sing the kind of music he produces. According to Salama, his songs are tailored towards embracing the ideals of both Western country music and traditional Arabic songs, which are based on unadulterated love, family, and religion. Moreover, he thinks that that traditional Arab tunes have the same rhythm as country music, which he compares to an experienced old man sitting in front of youth and teaching them the virtues of life [2]
[edit] Controversy
Salama’s devotion to Islam has turned him into a controversial figure wherever he is mentioned. This is especially true when his unique Islamically inspired country songs are contrasted with the homogenous demography of country singers. One common question Salama has been asked is how does he react to Toby Keith’s statement in his popular song, Courtesy Of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American) [3] :
'Cause we'll put in a boot in your ass; It's the American way
Salama responds to that question by asserting that though he understands the natural feeling of vengeance embedded in humans and the wretchedness of terrorists; he nonetheless disagrees with the overemphasized profiling of Muslims as terrorists [4]
[edit] Albums
Salama has released two albums thus far:
This Life of Mine (2007)
- This Life of Mine
- Generous Peace
- More Than
- I Miss You (Hopefully)
- Rise Up Protectors
- My Tears Aren't Pure
- It Came to Be
- A Friend Like You
- Get Busy Living (Acoustic)
- My Way Home
- Aristotle and Averroes
Generous Peace (2006)
- Get Busy Living
- Baby I'm a Soldier
- A Land Called Paradise
- Valley
- Hold On
- Peace Remain
- Come Now
- Lady Mary
- Chivalry's Not Dead
[edit] Performances
- 2008: Islamic Relief Charity’s Evening of Inspiration at the Royal Albert Hall, London, UK [5]
- 2008: Radical Middle Ground Annual Conference, London, UK
[edit] References
- ^ [1] Christian Science Monitor. “Backstory: A Country-Western Muslim” by Tom Peter. April 4, 2007.
- ^ [2] Altmuslim. “There's Something Reverent About Country Music” by Shahed Amanullah, April 17, 2007.
- ^ [3] New York Times. “Muslim Singer with a Country Twang” by Neil MacFarquhar. November 13, 2007.
- ^ [4] Fox News. Muslim country singer Kareem Salama interviewed live by Neil Cavuto of Fox News. May 9, 2007.
- ^ [5] “Evening of Inspiration 2008” at the Royal Albert Hall, London.
