Background and career
Layal Mounir Abboud (Arabic: ليال منير عبود, pronounced [laˈjaːl ʕabˈbuːd] ; born 15 May 1982) is a Lebanese pop singer, folk music entertainer, sound-lyric poet, concert dancer, fit model and Muslim humanitarian.
Born to a musical family in the Southern Lebanese Tyrian village of Kniseh, Abboud is a former ISF officer and studied English literature at Lebanese University, translation at Beirut Arab University and musical expression at the American University of Science and Technology. She appeared for the first time in the Studio El-Fan series debuts as a South Lebanese competitor from 2001 to 2002. Abboud's musical career flourished with the release of her first album Fi Shouq (في شوق) published in late 2007. Sings in different Arabic dialects, famous for her presentation of Lebanese folklore music and internal summer concerts and tours. Abboud is a singer member in the Syndicate of Professional Artists in Lebanon.
Layal Abboud was born into a large Shiite Muslim family in the southern village of Kanisah in Lebanon's Tyre District. Abboud's father and mother, named Mounir and Maryam, had three brothers and six sisters between them. As a child Abboud started singing and dancing and was a fan of Egyptian pop singer Amr Diab. Her father encouraged her and bought her a violin while she was six years old. Starting at age 14 she worked as a private tutor for more than 13 students.
Abboud studied English literature at the Lebanese University and translation in the Beirut Arab University, graduating with a master's degree. She went on to study music at the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of music for two years.
Abboud served as an officer for the Lebanese Police Force, working security for two years in the Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport's Inspection Department.
