Lebanese composer Ziad Rahbani dies at 69: Age, career, and more about icon Fairuz's son 

Ziad Rahbani, a Lebanese composer, playwright, pianist, and political voice, died on Saturday at the age of 69. The reports by ABC News state that the news of his death came from Lebanon’s state‑run National News Agency and was confirmed by someone close to him, who asked not to be named. The cause of death was not shared.

He was born on January 1, 1956, in Antelias, just outside Beirut. He was the eldest son of the famous singer Fairuz and the late composer Assi Rahbani. From his teens, Ziad showed strong musical skill. At 17, he wrote his first musical work. His mother sang some of his songs in her concerts.

The reports by AP News mentioned that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called Ziad Rahbani a national loss. He said Ziad was more than an artist. He was a voice for justice and a mirror for the poor and the weak. The president noted his fusion of jazz, classical, and Oriental music opened new doors for Lebanese art. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also paid tribute. He called Ziad an exceptional artist and a free voice who stayed true to the values of justice and dignity.

Ziad Rahbani's early life and breakthrough work

Ziad Rahbani grew up in a musical family. His mother, Fairuz, was one of the most famous singers in the Arab world, and his father, Assi, was a pioneer composer who worked with his brother Mansour as the famous Rahbani Brothers duo. As a teenager, he wrote a song called “Saalouni El Nass” for a show by his family.

In 1974, when he was 17, Ziad Rahbani wrote a play titled Nazl el‑Sourour (or Happiness Hotel). It used simple humor to talk about the class gap and political injustice. This play marked a break from his family’s style and showed his own voice. After that, he made more plays. In Bennesbeh Labokra Chou? (“What About Tomorrow?”). He used satire and surreal scenes to show life in post‑war Beirut. One famous line asks,

“They say tomorrow will be better, but what about today?”

He also wrote A Long American Film and Shi Fashel (Something Failed). These works mixed political themes and music, and made him a strong voice for critics and young people in Lebanon. He also made radio shows that used satire to mock sectarian divisions and power structures in Lebanon.

Ziad Rahbani's style, influence, and later years

Ziad Rahbani's music mixed Arabic tradition with jazz, funk, and Western styles. This blend became known as “Oriental jazz”. He played piano in clubs in Beirut and also led big music shows. He wrote many songs for Fairuz in the 1970s and 1980s. Some of these were Ouverture 83, Bala Wala Chi (“Without Anything”), and Kifak Inta (“How Are You”). These songs had deeper and more serious tones than earlier Rahbani works.

In recent times, Ziad Rahbani had been less visible in public. But his influence remained strong. His music was sampled during protest movements. He often spoke about how frustrated he felt with broken politics and public life in Lebanon.

He is survived by his mother, Fairuz, who is now 90, and his siblings Reema and Hali. Elissa, a Lebanese singer, posted on X that Ziad Rahbani was not an ordinary artist. She said with his passing, Lebanon lost part of its memory and identity. He shaped a style that stayed with Lebanon and the Arab world. His loss leaves a gap in culture. But his songs, plays, and ideas will live on.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback