Ragheb Subhi Alama (born June 7, 1962) is a Lebanese singer, composer, television personality, and philanthropist.
Alama began his career in the 1980s when he appeared as a contestant on the talent show broadcast Studio El Fan, on which he received the Platinum Award.
Alama's fame came after Studio El Fan followed by yearly albums and number-one hit singles which were the first Arabic songs in history to be made into a music video.
Alama continued his success into the 2000s with the release of his chart-topping albums. His most recent album Seneen Rayha (2010) saw the artist team with Starbucks for its release and sale, making him the first Arab artist to have his album sold at Starbucks. The Starbucks album Starz Vol. 1 also included a song featuring international pop artist Shakira. He adopted an environmental cause with the album after being named the United Nations Climate Change Supporter.
Alama has won two Murex d'Or Awards and several other awards during his career. His albums have made him one of the most commercially successful singers in the Arab world. In mid-2011, it was announced that Alama would head the judging panel for the pan-Arab version of the American Idol series.
Ragheb Alama has the St. Georges school centred in Beirut from 20 years ago and recently (this year) he opened a class for students with special needs, in order to graduate an educated generation and to help them engaging in the society.
Alama plays a humanitarian role and continues supporting UNEP’s activities and the NGOs handling the climate change issues as well as other activities he carried out over the last year as UN climate change Supporter, in schools, universities, and the Lebanese parliament.
