[2] Allan was born in the village of Galali in Muharraq Governorate in 1914, the second son of his father Niham and a mother from the same neighborhood and brother of the eldest, Ashour.
Educated in local schools, he lost his father at the age of four when the latter died before receiving the advance (“tasqam”) paid to prepare the family for his departure to go pearl hunting.
The captain (“nokhatha”), an influential figure in nearby Qatar, demanded Ashour and Salem go in their father's place, and after a few months in his aunt's custody he returned to the hard life of a pearl diver.
He sang with Ahmed Jassim Boutabnieh at an evening gala praised in French newspapers including the well-illustrated feature in Le Figaro, where vocal coaches marveled at his technique.
The Heritage Center, then led by Al-Ma’awda and Ahmed al-Fardan, brought him with their touring delegation to such venues as the International Festival of Carthage in Tunisia and others in France, Germany, and Australia.