WASHINGTON, D.C. (MuseWire) – A key priority for the Obama Administration, as outlined in the President's Cairo speech of June 4, 2009, is launching “a new beginning” in America's relationship with the Muslim world. The State Department's public diplomacy professionals in Washington and at U.S. Embassies around the globe are actively pursuing a variety of cultural, education and information programs to showcase respect for diverse cultures, faiths and traditions. As part of these efforts, American country and pop singer/songwriter, Kareem Salama (www.kareemsalama.com), will depart the U.S. for Cairo, Egypt on Monday, April 26 to begin a seven-country, one-month tour of the Middle East.

Salama will be accompanied by three other accomplished musicians: Dan Workman, JJ Worthen and Michael Whitebread. After a three-day stop in Egypt, the band will continue on to Morocco, Kuwait, Bahrain, Syria, Jerusalem and Jordan. During the tour, Salama and his band will perform in public and private settings, do community outreach events and interact with youth in every country on the tour.

The Kareem Salama Tour is designed to bring to audiences in the Middle East a rising American musical talent, representative of America's diversity of faith and heritage, who can serve as a bridge between Americans and the peoples of the Middle East. Funding for the tour is being provided by the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs' Office of Press and Public Diplomacy.

In the summer of 2008, Kareem Salama played to enthusiastic audiences in London, Berlin, Paris, Rome, Genoa, and Amsterdam, also with funding from the Department of State and private sponsors. Salama's first album, Generous Peace, appeared in 2006, followed by This Life of Mine a year later.

His song “A Land Called Paradise” provided the soundtrack for an award-winning music video celebrating the diversity and vitality of the American-Muslim community. His newest release will coincide with the current tour and will feature material from the first two albums and several new songs.