Assi Rahbani

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Assi Rahbani was a Lebanese composer, musician, conductor and producer. He was born in 1923 and, together with his brother Mansour, formed the Rahbani Brothers. His musical career began at the station Near East Radio. There in 1951 he noticed the singer Nouhad Haddad in the station's choir, who later became known as Fairuz. Assi wrote her very first song, Itab. That began a collaboration among the three that would last almost thirty years.

Music and breakthrough

In 1954 Assi married Fairuz. Together with his brother he wrote not only songs but also musicals for the stage. When the Lebanese civil war broke out, the Rahbanis continued to use political satire and sharp criticism. In 1977 their musical Petra was staged in both the Muslim west and the Christian east of Beirut. In 1978 the trio toured Europe and the Gulf states. In 1972 Assi suffered a brain haemorrhage, and after three operations he recovered. In the late 1970s his health deteriorated. In 1979 the collaboration and the marriage with Fairuz ended. He died in 1986.

Influence

With their songs and plays the Rahbani Brothers became a fixture of Lebanese music, and their work remained politically engaged over the years. Their son Ziad Rahbani later became a musician, theatre-maker and political activist himself. Assi's work shows how a national repertoire can arise from radio, theatre and song.

Listening