(b 17 Jan 1929). Jordanian traditional composer, singer and buzuq player of Palestinian Gypsy origin. At an early age he joined a group of Gypsy musicians as a singer and player of the ‘ūd (short-necked lute) and the buzuq (long-necked lute), and performed at weddings and other celebrations in Jerusalem and the neighbouring villages. He began to learn religious chants and Qur’anic recitation at the age of nine. In 1949 he joined the choir of the broadcasting service in Ramallah, and in 1959 he joined the music section of the newly established radio station in Amman. In 1963 he was appointed leader of the radio station’s music ensemble; he held this position for several years, during which he performed many of his songs and also had the opportunity to join a group of researchers making a field survey of folk heritage including Jordanian folk singing and music in an area covering both banks of the river Jordan. As a buzuq player he participated in several national and international festivals and competitions, winning first prize in a competition in Tunisia in 1974. In 1976 he was appointed consultant for the radio and television stations in Amman and still held this position in 1999.
His vocal style reflects elements of east Jordanian and Palestinian heritage as well as influences from Iraq and Syria. Many of his songs have been performed by his second wife, the Palestinian singer Salwā, and by several Jordanian and Arab singers including Ismā‘īl Khadr, Shukrī ‘Ayyād, Sihām al-Safadī, and Sāmī al-Shāyib; the songs of al-As have become widely known in Jordan and the Arab world through the performances of the Lebanese singer Samīra Tawfīq. Jamīl al-As received the Badge of Independence for his contribution to the development of Jordanian song.
ABDEL-HAMID HAMAM