Zaki Nassif facts for kids

Zaki Nassif (Arabic: زكي ناصيف; born July 4, 1918 – died March 10, 2004) was a famous Lebanese music composer and singer. He was very important in the early days of radio music in Lebanon during the 1940s and 1950s. Zaki Nassif continued to be a big name in Lebanese music until he passed away in 2004. Even today, his songs are still played and loved in Lebanon.

Life Story of Zaki Nassif

Zaki Nassif was born in 1918 in Machghara, a town in the western Beqaa Valley of Lebanon. From a young age, he loved music and traditional folk poetry. He was one of five very important musicians who created music for popular radio stations like Radio Orient and Radio Liban in the 1950s. Other famous musicians in this group included Halim El Roumi, who was the father of singer Magida El Roumi.

In the 1990s, Zaki Nassif often performed on popular television shows in Lebanon. When he turned 85, many news outlets interviewed him. Even though he was very popular, Zaki Nassif did not earn a lot of money from his 60 years in music. This was common for many Lebanese musicians. Zaki Nassif is still well-known in many Arab countries, especially Lebanon.

His Music Style

Zaki Nassif had a unique music style. He did not follow the style of the famous Rahbani brothers, who mixed Western classical music with Lebanese folk sounds. Instead, Zaki Nassif kept his music close to the older, traditional sounds of the Lebanese countryside, but he gave it a fresh and new feeling.

Many of his songs are about loving his country, Lebanon. For example, he wrote "Baladi Habibi" (My Beloved Country) and "Ya Daya'ati" (My Village). When his songs are played on Lebanese TV, they often show beautiful scenes from Lebanon.

Zaki Nassif is especially remembered for his hopeful song "Rajeh Yittammar" (Lebanon Will Be Rebuilt). He released this song during the Lebanese Civil War, a time when there was a lot of violence and destruction. The song was cheerful and inspired people to feel proud of their country and believe it would be rebuilt. It is one of his most famous songs.

Zaki Nassif also helped many new singers. He composed songs for them that fit their voices and helped them become successful.

In 1995, Zaki Nassif surprised many people by composing a whole album for the legendary singer Fairuz. The album was called Fairuz Chante Zaki Nassif. It showed how many different kinds of music Zaki Nassif could create. The album included songs with beautiful Andalusian parts, a poem by Gibran Khalil Gibran called "Ya Bani Oummi," and a lovely love song called "Ahwak."

Albums Available

Zaki Nassif's albums are easy to find, and he is a household name in Lebanon. In recent years, at least four CDs of his older recordings have been re-released by the Voix de l'Orient company. These CDs usually have over 20 songs or about 70 minutes of music. This is similar to how old albums by Fairuz have been re-released by the same company.

His Passing

Zaki Nassif passed away in Beirut on March 10, 2004. He died from a heart attack.