Umm Kulthum (Arabic: أم كلثوم ʾUmm Kulṯūm; Arabic pronunciation: [um kulˈθuːm]; born Umm Kulṯūm ʾIbrāhīm as-Sayyid al-Biltāǧī (أم كلثوم إبراهيم السيد البلتاجي [um kulˈθuːm (ʔe)bɾɑˈhiːm esˈsæjjed elbelˈtæːɡi];[1] [2]see Kunya) on an uncertain date (December 31, 1898, or May 4, 1904,[3] died February 3, 1975) was an internationally renowned Egyptian singer, songwriter, and film actress active from the 1920s to the 1970s. She was given the honorific title Kawkab al-Sharq (كوكب الشرق) ("Star of the East") in Arabic.
Umm Kulthum was known for her extraordinary vocal ability and style, and she was one of the greatest and most influential Arab singers of the 20th century, where she has sold over 80 million records worldwide.