Midwest Mahjar: The Recorded Sounds of the Arabic-Speaking Diaspora in the United States at 78 RPM

    Marguerite (Margaret) Kazen: A Garment Worker By Day, A Long-Forgotten Voice on Arabphon Records By Night Photograph of Marguerite Kazen. Courtesy of Carl Kazen.   The story of Arabic-speaking women musicians in the United States during 78 RPM era is one that can be divided roughly between those who recorded before 1935 and those who recorded between 1936 and 1961. On the front end stood the trailblazers – Zakia Agob , Lateefy Abdo, Margaret Daoud, Edma Marrache, and Fadwa Fedora Kurban . The second, or so-called middle period, brought audiences and listeners names that are much more recognizable today – Hanan , Kahraman , Fadwa Abeid , Odette Kaddo , Sana Kadaj , Lila Stephan , Laurice Peters , and Leila Mazloom . Without question, those singers easiest to identify released one or two songs on 78 rpm records. The latter group recorded singles on shellac and sometimes LP 33 1/3 vinyl albums with an occasional hit or popular single accompanied by a B-side track. This month’s feature