Karl Wolf facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Karl Wolf
Background information
Birth name	Carl Abou Samah
Also known as	KW, Karl Wolf
Born	(1979-04-18) April 18, 1979 (age 46) Beirut, Lebanon
Origin	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres	Pop, R&B, soul, fusion
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter, record producer, musician
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active	2001–present
Labels	LW Records LW Entertainment EMI (2001–2010) Universal Republic (2010) Universal Music Canada (2011–present)
Associated acts	Sky, Choclair, Culture, Striger

Carl Abou Samah (born April 18, 1979), known as Karl Wolf, is a Lebanese-Canadian musician. He lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Karl Wolf has been a singer, songwriter, and producer since 2001. He released his first solo album, Face Behind the Face, in 2006. His second album, Bite the Bullet, came out in 2007. He has released several more albums since then.

His most famous song is "Africa". It is a new version of the hit song "Africa" by the band Toto. Karl Wolf added new lyrics and music to it.

Karl Wolf also manages new artists through his company, Lone Wolf Management. In 2015, he started a new music group called BAE (Be All Equal). He also helped write the song "Hula Hoop" for the singer OMI.

Karl Wolf's Early Life and Music Journey

Karl Wolf was born as Carl Abou Samah in Beirut, Lebanon. His family loved music. His mother taught piano, and his father played instruments like the oud and guitar.

When he was three, his family moved to Sharjah, UAE. This was because of the civil war in Lebanon. Karl studied in the UAE. His stage name "Wolf" came from a nickname he got in high school. He was called "wolf" on his basketball team because he was small and fast.

Moving to Canada and Starting Music

In 1995, when he was 16, Karl moved to Canada. He lived in Montreal, Quebec. He studied Film Studies at Concordia University.

He began his music career working "behind the scenes" in 2001. He wrote and produced songs for other artists. He was also a backup singer for the band Dubmatique.

Karl's work helped the singer Gabrielle Destroismaisons have a hit album in 2001. Two songs he co-wrote reached number one on the charts. He won a Félix Award for "Best Mix and Sound of the Year."

Joining the Band Sky

His work with Gabrielle caught the attention of Antoine Sicotte. Antoine was from the popular Canadian band Sky. Karl joined Sky as their new lead singer in 2002.

Karl helped write and produce Sky's third album, Picture Perfect. This album was played a lot on Canadian radio. Karl and Antoine also worked together on the TV show Star Académie. The album from this show was the best-selling in Canada in 2003. Karl Wolf won a SOCAN Award for "Most Popular Song." A second Star Académie album in 2004 was also very successful.

Karl Wolf's Solo Career (Since 2005)

Karl Wolf performing in Montreal in June 2011

In 2005, Karl Wolf started his solo music career. His first solo album, Face Behind the Face, came out in January 2006. It reached the Canadian Top 100 sales chart.

His Hit Song "Africa"

His second album, Bite the Bullet, was released in November 2007. The first song from this album was "Africa". This song was a new version of the famous song by Toto. Karl Wolf's version featured the Canadian artist Culture.

In March 2009, "Africa" became very popular on iTunes. It went from number 32 to number 2 on the charts. It even reached number 1 on the iTunes charts. This is Karl Wolf's most successful song so far. The song also topped the MuchMusic Top 30 Countdown. It was also a hit in Japan, reaching number 20 on their Hot 100 chart.

More Albums and New Deals

His third album, Nightlife, was released in November 2009.

After many years with EMI Music, Karl Wolf signed new music deals. In 2010, he signed with Universal Republic in the United States. In 2011, he signed a worldwide deal with Universal Music Canada. His fourth album, Finally Free, came out in 2012.

In September 2014, he released the album Stereotype. The album WOW followed in 2015. In April 2021, he released his tenth album, 2AM Vibes.

Karl Wolf's Companies and Collaborations

Besides his singing career, Karl Wolf also has his own companies. He started "LW Entertainment" and his record label "LW Records." LW stands for Lone Wolf. He also has his own recording studio.

Through Lone Wolf Management, Karl Wolf helps new artists. He works with his long-time manager, Pascal Malkoun.

Karl Wolf has also produced music for other singers. These include Quebec singers Mitsou and Emily.

BAE (Be All Equal) Group

In 2015, Karl Wolf announced a new music group called BAE (Be All Equal). The group includes Karl Wolf, hip-hop artist Show Stephens, and singer-songwriter Brenda Mullen. Their first song was "I'm Lonely."

BAE and Karl Wolf also opened for the famous singer Akon on his 2015 Canada tour.

Working with Other Artists

Karl Wolf has worked with many other artists, especially from Canada.

• Choclair was on his early hit "Desensitize."
• Culture was on his biggest hit "Africa."
• Rime and Kaz Money were on "Yalla Habibi."
• Sway was on "Hurting."
• Kardinal Offishall was on "Ghetto Love."

In 2015, Karl Wolf also helped write the international hit song "Hula Hoop" for OMI. This song followed OMI's big hit "Cheerleader."

In 2020, Karl Wolf worked with artist Raeshaun on the song "Dubai." This song honored the city and country that welcomed his family during the war in Lebanon.

Karl Wolf's Music Albums

Studio albums

Compilation albums

Extended plays

Singles

Other songs

• 2007: "Hollow Girl" (feat. Striger)
• 2007: "Butterflies" (with Eve)
• 2008: "Like This" (feat. Sandman)
• 2009: "Maniac Maniac" (feat. Culture)
• 2009: "You Forgot About Me" (feat. Imposs)
• 2009: "No Way Nobody" (feat. Loon)
• 2011: "Tell Me" (feat. Nirvana Savoury)
• 2013: "Go Your Own Way" (feat. Reema Major)

Songs Featuring Karl Wolf

Awards and Nominations

Karl Wolf has won several awards for his music.

See also

In Spanish: Karl Wolf para niños