Cairo (Reuters) - Egyptian television said on Sunday that singer Hani Shaker died in France at the age of 74 after a short battle with illness and an artistic career that spanned more than five decades.

The deceased was receiving treatment in France, where he traveled last March after undergoing medical surgery in Egypt earlier in the year.

Hani Abdel Aziz Shaker was born in December 1952 and graduated from the Higher Institute of Music (Conservatory). However, he started his career early in children’s programs on Egyptian television before the musician Mohamed El Mougy supported him and presented him in a big concert with the late Fayza Ahmed, in which he performed the song “Helwa Ya Donya” with lyrics by Fathi El Ghandour.

Shaker released dozens of albums, including (Ali Al-Dahkaya), (Hikayat Kol Asheq), (Shawar), (Qalbi Malo), (Ya Retni), (Al-Helm Al-Jamil), (Jarhi Ana), (Bahibak Ana), (Al-Helm Al-Jamil), (Jarhi Ana), (Esm Ala Al-Waraq), and (Al-Youm Jameel). He performed concerts in most countries of the world and participated in major art festivals.

He participated in a number of films such as (Living for Love) in 1974 opposite Nelly and Mohamed Awad, (This I Love and This I Want) in 1975 and (The Magic Lamp) in 1977.

Shaker first served as head of the Musicians Syndicate in 2015, then won a second term before submitting his resignation in July 2022.