Talal Maddah, the Saudi Arabian singing icon, was born on August 5, 1940. He was raised by his uncle Ali Maddah, who gave him his name, and grew up with a close friend, Mohammed Rijab, who introduced him to the music of prominent composer Mohammed Abdel Wahab. Talal’s father, Abd al-Rab al-Sheikh, was also a musician and played the drums and sesame, which influenced his love for music. Talal's voice drew attention during his school days in Taif, where he became the primary singer at school concerts. He met fellow student Abdulrahman Khunidan, who played the oud, and they began holding weekly singing nights. Talal began playing the oud, and his first song to gain popularity was "Your Rose, O Rose Planter." Talal’s musical career took off in the 1960s and 1970s when he collaborated with prominent composers and formed an iconic quartet with Badr Bin Abdulrahman, Mohammed Abdullah Al-Faisal, and Suraj Omar. He released several albums in the 1980s, renewed some of his old songs, and collaborated with Saudi and Egyptian composers, including Tariq Abdul Hakim and Ghazy Alai. Talal was a pioneer in developing Saudi music, introducing Western influences and experimenting with long-form songs. Talal had a controversial personal life, having been married three times and fathering a large number of children. He died suddenly on August 11, 2000, while performing on stage in Abha. His death shocked his fans and the Arab world. Talal Maddah was known as the “voice of the land,” the “guitar of the East,” the “golden larynx,” and the “knight of Saudi song.” He received many honours in his lifetime, including the title “Ziryab,” given to him by legendary Egyptian composer Mohammed Abdel Wahab.