To Assi (1923 - June 21, 1986)

Assi Rahbani was born on May 4, 1923 and was raised in the small Lebanese village of Antelias, a few miles northeast of Beirut. His father played the buzuq (a long-necked fretted lute with metal strings). Nightly, the father played on the buzuq the music of Sayyid Darwish and other popular musicians of the period. As a boy, Assi joined a musical group formed by Father Paul Ashkar, becoming familiar in this way with religious music. Although he wanted to pursue advanced studies in music, a lack of funds forced him to take jobs as policeman in Beirut. After some years, he was able to enter the Lebanese Academy of Arts to study under the French professor Bertrand Robier; he studied Western music and expanded his training in Middle Eastern music as well.

When he graduated, Assi became joint director of a radio program. He originated a series of song-skits, a sort of musical theatre, which became highly successful and secured his reputation. His collaboration with Fairuz began when she was hired as one of the performers on their show. Since that time the Assi has become Lebanon's most influential composer. According to Claude Rostand, he is the originator of Arab light opera, and his work in this area has become prolific. Assi Rahbani has also played a leading role in the current adaptation of ancient Arabic music to modern instruments and orchestration.

Married in 1955 to Nouhad Haddad later known as Fairuz, Assi had four children: Ziad, a musician and a composer, Layal (died in 1987 of a brain stroke), Hali (paralysed since early childhood after meningitis) and Rima, a photographer and film director.

Assi Rahbani died on June 21, 1986. With his death, the Arab World has lost a master and an icon.