Renowned musician Helmy Bakr is considered one of the most famous figures in art, known for his numerous marriages, which have earned him the title "Sheherazade of Art." This title is also the name of a film made about him, titled "Helmy Bakr: Sheherazade of Art," directed by art critic Atef Suleiman. The film narrates the stories of Helmy Bakr's marriages, his success in the world of music, important works, and testimonials from those close to him. It features 38 minutes focusing on his most notable marriages, starting with actress Suheir Ramzy and including Shahinaz Toub Sagal, the sister of actress Shawikar, reaching a total of 15 wives, among whom were journalists and students.
Musician Helmy Bakr passed away today, Friday, in a hospital in Sharqia. He was a significant figure in music, having produced over 1,500 works and collaborated with major stars from Egypt and the Arab world. He referred to himself as the guardian of the song, having chaired the listening committees of the Musicians' Syndicate for 40 years, during which he conducted auditions for applicants to the Syndicate.
Helmy Bakr's artistic journey began during his time in the Egyptian Armed Forces, where he met Algerian singer Warda, who was performing at one of the armed forces' events. That day, he showcased some of his melodies to her, and she was impressed by his talent, insisting on introducing him to musician Mohamed El Shagary, the then-director of the Egyptian radio, marking the start of his artistic career.
Throughout his career, Helmy Bakr composed no fewer than 1,500 songs for prominent Egyptian and Arab singers, such as Layla Mourad, Warda, Samira Said, Nagat al-Saghira, Ali al-Hijar, Assala, Medhat Saleh, Mohamed El Helw, Mohamed Rushdi, Alia Tunisian, and Azeezah Jalal. He also provided music compositions for nearly 120 films and 48 theatrical productions, in addition to the Arab Dream operetta, which brought together many artists from the Arab world and was released in 1998, embodying the dream of Arab unity.
Recently, Helmy Bakr faced numerous crises, starting in January of the previous year when he announced a sudden health crisis that led to his admission to intensive care. At that time, he suffered from water retention, kidney issues, high blood sugar levels, and heart problems. He remained in intensive care for several days before transferring to a general ward, later returning to intensive care due to low oxygen levels. After his health improved, he was discharged from the hospital on February 12, 2023, following a 24-day treatment period.
In October of last year, the great musician faced another crisis after accusing his manager of theft, claiming he absconded with 2 million and 280 thousand Egyptian pounds, exploiting his illness. He was misled into believing the money had been deposited in a bank, only to discover later that the accused had transferred the sum to his own account. Following this incident, the musician's health deteriorated significantly again, suffering from heart problems that severely affected his leg movement.
Helmy Bakr collaborated with the great artist Fouad El Mohandes in various film and theatrical works, where he composed the songs featured in those projects. Their collaboration began with the film "The Fake Millionaire," released in 1968, followed by their joint work in the play "My Beautiful Lady," as well as in films such as "You're the One Who Killed My Father," "A Quarter of a Dozen Villains," and "Viva Zallata."
