Fairuz…the creative Ziad Rahbani has passed away

Ziad Rahbani was born on January 1, 1956, and grew up in an artistic family that left its clear mark, not only in Lebanon, but in the entire Arab world.

He is the eldest son of musician Assi Rahbani and singer Nouhad Haddad, known as Fairuz.

Ziad composed, wrote, acted, and presented, and his theatrical works were distinguished by their political and social criticism.

One of the most prominent things that contributed to the launch of his career was his first melody, which he presented to his mother, Fairuz, for the song “Sa’aloni al-Nas,” which was the launch of the first of the songs that he composed for Fairuz, the most prominent of which were “Salamli Aleih” and “Habibitak Ta Nset Al-Nawm”.

He began his artistic career at the age of 17 when he presented his first play, “Sahriya”, in 1973. He not only composed, but also wrote many, most notably “Sabah wa Masa” and “Oudak Rannan” (Your Oud is Resonant).

Ziad Rahbani, who was known for his many talents, introduced jazz and Western styles to Eastern music and succeeded in creating his own style.

In 1988, the New York Times wrote an article about his jazz music entitled “Oriental Jazz.” This name was later dropped, and everything he composed or redistributed became classified under the name “Music by Ziad Rahbani.”

He sang, composed, and wrote many songs, some of which were milestones that were repeated by many throughout the generations, including “Aybisha Wahda Black” and “Bla Wallashi.”

Ziad Rahbani was not just an artist, but a complete intellectual and cultural case. He was a living conscience, a rebellious voice against injustice, and an honest mirror of the tortured and marginalized people.

Ziad Rahbani’s musical, theatrical, and radio works have left their mark on the memory of more than one generation.

Ziad passed away on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at the age of 69, after a busy artistic career, during which he left his deep mark in music and theatre.

Fedaa