Raef (singer)

Raef
Raef performing in Trindad & Tobago, 2014
Background information
Native name	رائف
Birth name	Raef Haggag
Born	8 August 1982 Washington DC, USA
Genres	rock, acoustic, folk
Occupation(s)	Singer, Performer, Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Guitar
Labels	Awakening
Website	awakening.org/raefmusic/

Raef Haggag (Arabic: رائف حجاج‎ ; born 1982) is an Egyptian-American singer from Washington D.C. He is a prominent American-Muslim songwriter whose songs are for Muslims and faith-based communities around the world. He released his first album The Path produced by Awakening Records in June 2014.^[1]

History

Raef was born in Washington DC and raised in Maryland^[2] to parents who immigrated from Egypt to attend graduate school. From a young age, he often went fishing, kayaking, and camping with family and friends. Growing up, music had always been an important part of his life. Raef studied Computer Science at the University of Maryland, College Park and graduated in 2005.^[3] During college he sang tenor in a comedic a cappella group on campus. After graduating, Raef worked as a software engineer, developing security software for the New York Stock Exchange. Shortly afterwards, Raef abruptly quit his computer programming job to work as full-time high school teacher from 2005-2013. He said: "I decided to switch careers from a software eng. to a high school teacher because I wanted to help others in a more direct way (and because it was pretty boring sitting in front of a computer for 8 hours a day)".^[4] Raef ventured into the classroom and taught computer programming in Montgomery County Public Schools and was awarded "CS Teacher of the Year"^[5] for implementing creative lesson plans that included songs on how to program in C++ and Java.^[6]

Teaching gave Raef time to focus on songwriting, often performing at local coffee shops and busking at metro stations. He was introduced to the national stage after his trio rock band "Great Seneca" toured the United States of America as part of the "Voices for Change" initiative. Raef also joined the "Poetic Vision Tour"; a band of traveling musicians and poets catering to the American Muslim community.^[7] Raef did several Islamic covers of popular main-stream songs, attracting young listeners wanting a modern take on religious music^[8]

Raef signed with Awakening Records and released his debut album The Path in 2014.^[9]

Discography

Albums

Videography

• 2011: "It's Jumuah [Friday] (Rebecca Black Cover)"
• 2011: "Redemption Song (Bob Marley Cover)"
• 2012: "Your Mercy (Maroon 5 Cover)"
• 2012: "Rabbee I'm Yours (Jason Mraz Cover)"
• 2012: "With You (Chris Brown Cover)"
• 2012: "Man In The Mirror (Michael Jackson Cover)"
• 2014: "So Real" (Raef feat. Maher Zain)
• 2014: "You Are The One"

Philanthropy Activities

(From left) Maher Zain, Irfan Makki, Raef, Hamza Namira, Mesut Kurtis in "Send a little hope" UK tour, London, April 2012.

• On 14 April 2012, Raef took part in "Send A Little Hope" charity concert organized by Awakening Records and Save An Orphan organization at London's Hammersmith Apollo with Hamza Namira, Irfan Makki, Maher Zain and Mesut Kurtis to raise awareness and collect donations.^[10] Over £175,000 were pledged on the night.^[11]
• Raef took part in USA tour "Songs for children" with Kareem Salama and Alman Nusrat organized by Islamic Relief USA to raise money and awareness for children around the world.^[12]

References

External links

1. Raef Twitter Account
2. Raef Facebook page
3. Raef official website
4. Raef Instagram Account
5. Raef on Awakening Store