Multi-instrumentalist Salem Al Fakir was born October 27, 1981, in metropolitan Stockholm. The youngest of four, he was raised by his Syrian father and Swedish mother. Al Fakir studied at the renowned Södra Latin School, where he mastered both violin and piano. The musical prodigy was touring as a solo violinist throughout Russia by the age of 12. As time marched on, Al Fakir turned that instrumental virtuosity toward pop-oriented instruments, primarily keyboards, but also including drums, bass, guitar, and a variety of more obscure musical instruments like xylophone. His childlike voice and unapologetically poppy arrangements were first heard on his hit single debut, "Dream Girl." The song was released at the end of 2006, priming audiences for the January 2007 release of his debut record, This Is Who I Am. Noted for its extreme musical sophistication and an amazing array of styles (including rock, soul, gospel, and classical), the record stayed in the national Top Ten for several weeks, and wasted no time in going gold. Al Fakir stayed close to home following the record's success, touring primarily in and around Sweden. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez