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

  Petrophon Records: A Rare Arab American Record Label Releases Patriotic Songs at World War II's Beginning Petrophon Record featuring Najeeba Morad on vocals and Petro Trabulsi leading the orchestra in his own composition. Courtesy of Richard M. Breaux collection. https://youtu.be/MDhAPoCpLNg   Until a few years ago, we had never heard of Petrophon Records, nor had we seen their label. A Grand Rapids, Michigan record collector listed two or three 78 rpm records featuring Najeeba Morad on the popular auction site eBay in 2021. These records were not pressed on the well-known Morad Records later operated by Najeeba and her family, these were both on Petrophon Records.  Najeeba Morad Karam, 1944. Courtesy of  Ad-Deleel. LOC. Close examination of these two discs reveals that Petro Trabulsy or Peter Trabulsi and his Arabian Orchestra backed Najeeba Morad on these sides. Petro Trabulsy was the “Petro” from which Petrophon derived. The label also notes that Petro compose...

  Abdulmunim Shakir: A Pan-Arab Political Activist and Educator Declares “I Am a Muslim” on a rare 78 RPM Record Abdulmunim Shakir c. 1958. Courtesy iof Richard M. Breaux Collection. Few 78 rpm records have intrigued us as much as Dr. Abdulmunim Shakir’s “I Am a Muslim,” backed by “Related Passages from the Holy Quran." Released on a custom label in 1956, it reads for “Exclusive Domestic and Foreign Distribution of Record Through Copyright holder.” Most singers and musicians we’ve written about at Midwest Mahjar traced their ancestry to the so-called Levant but a few like Hana Rached and Mohammed el-Akkad trace their roots to North and northeast Africa. Abdulmunim Ahmed Shakir or Abdelmoneum Shaker was born to Ahmed Shakir and Nema Shadi on 19 May 1914 (some documents say 1924) in Atbara, Sudan, at the time under Anglo-Egyptian Condominium rule. Ahmed Shakir reportedly served as a brigadier general in the Egyptian military under King Fuad I. In reality, however, Great Britain m...

From The Derbecki Trio to the Derbecki Ensemble: The Group at the Heart of Cleveland’s Arabic Music Scene The Derbecki Trio (Eddie Hakal, Eddie Shaheen, and Labbie George) with Laurice Peters. Hafla: Echoes of the Middle East album. Courtesy of Richard M. Breaux collection. Just over four years ago, back in 2021, we featured the singing of Cleveland’s Laurice Peters . Peters had recently passed away and we explored her music career beginning with her joining the Derbecki Trio in 1957. Over the years, however, between 1949 and 1980, the trio had two core members - Eddie Shaheen and Labbie George - and a host of accompanying singers and oudist who rounded out the band making it the Derbecki Ensemble . The only other musician, although not an original member, to remain with the Derbecki Ensemble for its entire recording career was Edward Hakal . We’ve back tracked to tell the story of the core members and those who came and went as time passed and other opportunities presented themselves....