As a child, Khorshid taught himself the violin, guitar and piano, which eventually led him to a private music institute in downtown Cairo for further education. In 1966, Khorshid formed a band with friends called "Les Petits Chats", a band that played music influenced by Western sounds. The group played in small venues and eventually worked their way up in terms of fame in Egypt. Following Egyptian political turmoil; and for four years from 1973 to 1977, Khorshid was forced to leave and move to Lebanon and he then began recording albums under his own name for Lebanese record labels such as Voice of the Orient and Voice of Lebanon. Working with audio engineer Nabil Moumtaz at Polysound Studios in Beirut, Khorshid worked harder to progress his musical style. In 1977, Egyptian presidentAnwar Sadat invited Khorshid to perform in the United States at the White House for American presidentJimmy Carter, during one of the ceremonies of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, where Korshid happily accepted the invitation and was one of the guitarists at the ceremony. Though many saw this performance as peaceful, conservatives in the Middle-East who saw the United States as Zionist viewed it as a wrong act and many countries cut ties with Egypt following its peace treaty. In 1978, Khorshid spent a year in Syria, acting in films and performing at various venues. In 1979, driven by a bigger desire for cinematic fulfillment, Khorshid returned to his home country Egypt to pursue a film career. He directed and acted in films and performed live until his death in 1981.
Personal life
Khorshid spoke fluent Arabic, French, and English. He was married four times. At the age of 26, he married Egyptian buisneswoman, Amina El-Sobky; the marriage lasted from 1971 to 1972. The two divorced amicably. His second marriage was to Egyptian actress, Mervat Amin, another year-long marriage that also ended in an amicable divorce. Soon afterwards, Khorshid met a businesswoman in Lebanon named Dina and they began a relationship; they were engaged by 1975 and married by early 1977. However, while they were still married, Khorshid met the Egyptian artist and former singer Maha Abu Ouf during a performance of hers with the Egyptian band Four M. They grew attached to each other and, while still married to Dina, Khorshid married Abu Ouf in early 1981. Abu Ouf was pregnant when Khorshid was killed, though she suffered a miscarriage upon finding out about his death.
Death
On May 29, 1981, Khorshid was driving at a high speed on El Haram Street in Giza, Egypt with his third wife, Dina, when Khorshid lost control of the vehicle and collided with a street lamp. Though Dina suffered from critical injuries, she survived. Khorshid, upon collision, was ejected from his seat and suffered from blunt trauma to his skull, neck, and spine, killing him instantly.
Legacy
Khorshid's musicality in orchestra performances, original songs, and film scores was considered revolutionary at the time in the Middle East. His extensive theoretical knowledge, fusion of Western sounds with Eastern sounds, and incorporation of different, more modern instruments in Arabic music was previously unheard of. Khorshid's unique style sparked inspiration from many aspiring musicians not only in the Middle East, but in Europe and the Americas as well. His mixing of "modern" western electric instruments with older Eastern tunes spawned a new, more modern sound of electric music that many use for discos today. The Freak of Araby, an album by Sir Richard Bishop released on May 26, 2009, includes covers of several songs written by Omar Khorshid.
Selected discography
A list of selected works by Omar Khorshid. Belly Dance with Omar Khorshid Belly Dance with Omar Khorshid Vol. 2 Belly Dance with Omar Khorshid Vol. 3 Belly Dance from Lebanon Omar Khorshid: Tribute to Oum Kalsoum Omar Khorshid: Tribute to Farid El Atrache Rhythms from the Orient Omar Khorshid with Love Omar Khorshid with Love Vol. 2 Guitar El Chark''
