Referring to Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Mohamed Abdul Wahab, Oum Kalthoum and Julio Iglesias as influential singers, he croons like the best of them. Mohamed Ilyas began his musical career with the nai (Arabic bamboo flute) and was a lead singer with Zanzibar's oldest taarab club Nadi Ikhwan Safaa for many years.
Ukiwazungumzia akina Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Mohamed Abdul Wahab, Oum Kulthoum and Julio Iglesias kama wasanii mashuhuri, huimba kama mbora kati yao. Mohamed Ilyas alianza harakati za mziki na upigaji filimbi (Nai) alikuwa kiongozi wa kundi kongwe la taarab asilia Nadi Ikwan Safaa kwa miaka mingi.