Assi Rahbani facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Assi Rahbani
عاصي الرحباني |
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Assi Rahbani and Fairuz on their wedding day
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| Background information | |
| Born | May 4, 1923 Antelias, Lebanon |
| Died | June 21, 1986 (aged 63) Beirut, Lebanon |
| Years active | 1951–1986 |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 4 (Ziad, Layal, Hali and Rima) |
| Relatives | Mansour Rahbani (brother) Elias Rahbani (brother) |
Assi Rahbani (Arabic: عاصي الرحباني; born May 4, 1923 – died June 21, 1986) was a talented Lebanese composer, musician, and producer. He was famous as part of the Rahbani Brothers with his brother Mansour Rahbani. Assi married the well-known Lebanese singer Nouhad Haddad, who is better known by her stage name, Fairuz. Their son, Ziad Rahbani, also became a very successful artist in music and theatre.
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Assi Rahbani's Musical Journey
Starting in Radio
Assi Rahbani's music career began when he got a job at a radio station called Near East Radio. In 1951, a singer named Nouhad Haddad (who later became Fairuz) caught the attention of the station's music director, Halim El Roumi. Assi wrote her very first song, called "Itab" (which means "Reproach").
El Roumi was very impressed and asked Assi to write more songs for Fairuz. Together, Assi, his brother Mansour, and Fairuz created about 50 songs for the radio station.
Becoming Independent
In 1956, the Rahbani brothers and Fairuz left the Near East Radio Station. They decided to become an independent music group. Both Assi and Mansour wrote music and lyrics for their songs. They often said in interviews that they both contributed equally.
This trio quickly became one of the most important music groups in Lebanon and the wider Middle East. In 1957, they performed for the first time at the famous Baalbeck International Festival.
Rising to Stardom
By the 1960s, the Rahbani Brothers were incredibly famous across the Arab world. Many other Arab singers wanted to work with them. Besides their work with Fairuz, they also wrote and directed hundreds of plays and TV shows.
Assi Rahbani even acted alongside Fairuz in two Lebanese movies: Safar Barlek (which means The Exile, made in 1967) and Bint El-Hares (The Guardian's Daughter, made in 1968).
Music During Challenging Times
When the Lebanese Civil War started, the Rahbanis continued to create plays. They used their plays to make political jokes and offer strong opinions about what was happening. For example, in 1977, their musical Petra was shown in both the Muslim and Christian parts of Beirut, even though the city was divided by war.
In 1978, the trio went on a tour across Europe and the Persian Gulf countries. They even performed a concert at the famous Paris Olympia in France.
After 1979, Assi and his brother Mansour continued to write musicals for other singers like Ronza and Fadia Tomb El-Hage. They even remade one of their earlier musicals, Al Sha'khs (The Person), with Ronza singing the songs. Assi and Fairuz's youngest daughter, Rima Rahbani, also had a small part in this production.
Assi Rahbani's Life and Health
Assi Rahbani and Fairuz were not just professional partners; they were also married. Assi proposed to Fairuz in 1953, and they got married a year later.
On September 22, 1972, Assi Rahbani had a serious health issue and was taken to the hospital in Beirut. Many fans gathered outside the hospital, holding a candlelight vigil to show their support. After several surgeries, he recovered.
However, his demanding career eventually began to affect his health. By the late 1970s, Assi faced more health challenges. In 1979, Fairuz and the Rahbani Brothers decided to end their professional partnership. Fairuz also separated from Assi Rahbani. After this, Fairuz started working with her son, Ziad Rahbani, while the Rahbani Brothers continued to compose for other artists.
Assi Rahbani passed away on June 21, 1986, after being in a coma for several weeks. He was buried in East Beirut. To allow his funeral procession to pass, the different groups fighting in the city during the civil war actually agreed to a ceasefire and opened the checkpoints. This shows how much he was respected.
See Also
In Spanish: Assi Rahbani para niños
