Sarbel Michael, better known as Sarbel, is a Greek Cypriot pop singer with Greek and Lebanese ancestry.
Born in London, his father was a singer and bouzouki player, while his mother was a lawyer. He received a Jesuit education at St Ignatius' College in Enfield. Sarbel studied music (voice), drama, art, and performing arts. From the age of 5 to 16 he performed at the English National Opera and the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and has recorded Tosca in English for Chandos Recordings as the shepherd boy.
Afterward, he moved to Crete, where he sung at the Heraklion Palladium. Three years later, he signed with Sony BMG (Greece) on a six-year recording contract. He started gaining popularity in 2004, when he recorded the Arabic hit Se Pira Sovara featuring Greek singer Irini Merkouri. In 2005, he released his debut album, which was certified Gold.
Due to his increasing popularity, the ERT asked him to participate in the Greek final, which he did with the song Yassou Maria. It ended up winning it, and therefore competing at the Eurovision Song Contest 2007. It ended up placing 7th with 139 points.
