Umm Kulthūm, also spelled Oum Kulthoum or Om Kalsoum   (born May 4, 1904?, Tummāy al-Zahāyrah, Egypt—died February 3, 1975, Cairo), Egyptian singer, who mesmerized Arab audiences from the Persian Gulf to Morocco for half a century. She was one of the most famous Arab singers and public personalities in the 20th century. Umm Kulthūm’s father was a village imam who sang traditional religious songs at weddings and holidays to make ends meet. She learned to sing from him, and, when he noticed the strength of her voice, he began…