Saudi Arabian singer Mohammed Abdu has returned to the studio after recovering from an illness, where he recorded a song for the country's upcoming National Day celebrations on 23 September. Abdu is considered an icon of Arabic music, with a distinguished career that he began in the early 1960s. He was born in Jazan, in southern Saudi Arabia, and lived in poverty after his father died when he was six. Abdu subsequently received a scholarship from King Faisal to attend a institute to learn about ship-building, but he was an avid fan of music and singing. Abdu's breakthrough was when he was discovered by Abbas Faegh Ghazzawy, who became one of his mentors, and who introduced him to songwriter Taher Zgheib. Abdu went on to become one of the most popular Arab singers of all time.