The most influential composer and popularizer of Egyptian classical music, Mohamed Abdel Wahab, got his start as the pretty voice behind a fading, female star, lip-synching on stage. He began recording at 13 under the guidance of Egypt's "prince of poets," Ahmed Shawky. In 1926, as the Ottoman Empire gave way to European rule, Wahab began a theatrical career that led him to France, where he was exposed to filmmaking. Over the next 15 years, he helped to establish and shape musical film in Egypt. Following the path of composer Sayed Darweesh, Abdel Wahab blended classical tradition and modern film music. In the '30s, he also helped bring Lebanon's Baidophon label to Cairo. From about 1950 until his official retirement in the 1960s, Wahab concentrated on singing and composing. In 1965, at a time when he had ventured into experiments with popular music and western sounds, he wrote Oum Kalsoum's celebrated "Enta Omri" ("You Are All My Years") her first song with electric guitar. Wahab thrilled his admirers and made a huge success with an unexpected new recording in 1988. When he died three years later, Wahab left behind more than 1000 songs.