Sheik of Araby

Guitarist Nikolai Svishev Trio www.nikolaisvishev.com plays "Sheik of Araby" at the Sanctuary at Kiawah Island, SC. Гитарист Николай Свищев. "The Sheik of Araby" is a song that was written by Harry B. Smith, Francis Wheeler and music by Ted Snyder in 1921. It was composed in response to the popularity of the Rudolph Valentino film The Sheik. In 1926 it received new lyrics by Billy Rose and was retitled "That Night in Araby". It was a Tin Pan Alley hit, and was also adopted by early jazz bands, especially in New Orleans, making it a jazz standard. It was a well recognized part of popular culture, earning a mention in The Great Gatsby. The "Araby" in the title refers to Arabia or the Arabian Peninsula. "Sheik of Araby" is very popular again among gypsy style musicians around the world.