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OBITUARY

Lebanese singer and musician Elie Choueiri dies aged 84

Born in Beirut in 1939, the prolific musician wrote songs for Sabah and Wadih Safi and collaborated in 25 plays alongside the Rahbani brothers and Fairouz.

Lebanese singer and musician Elie Choueiri dies aged 84

The Lebanese singer and musician Elie Choueiri. (L'Orient-Le Jour archives)

BEIRUT — Lebanese singer and musician Elie Choueiri passed away on Wednesday in Beirut, at the age of 84, the state-run National News Agency reported.

Choueiri, who was born on Dec. 27, 1939 and is the father of three daughters, received the insignia of Commander of the National Order of Cedar in 2017 for his artistic and musical career.

Choueiri began his career in 1960 on Kuwaiti radio, before returning to Lebanon and collaborating with the biggest names in the Lebanese music scene, including the Rahbani brothers, Fairouz, Sabah, Wadih Safi and Samira Toufic.

In Kuwait, the artist participated in several events that allowed him to discover the music of the Gulf countries. In 1962, he attended a concert of several Lebanese artists including Wadih Safi, Souad Hachem, Zaki Nassif and Toufic Bacha, which drove him to return to Lebanon to launch his singing career.

Upon his return to Lebanon, he was supported by the musician Joseph Chamaa as he joined a choir with him and Nicolas Deek.

The team performed with several singers including Fahed Ballan and Nazha Younes.

Elie Choueiri (L), receives the insignia of Commander of the National Order of Cedar in 2017, from former President Michel Aoun (R). (L'Orient-Le Jour archives)

In 1963, Choueiri landed a role in a play by Romeo Lahoud presented as part of the Baalbeck International Festival. He was then discovered by the Rahbani brothers and collaborated in 25 plays with Fairouz, including Sahh al-Nom, Bayyaa al-Khawatem and Dawalib al-Hawa.

After a few years, he separated from the Rahbani brothers and started a satirical show on the radio station Voix du Liban in 1975 with the journalist Samy Ghamika.

He then met Sabah, during the play Sett al-Kell and composed her the famous song "Tehla w tetaammar ya dar."

He was then discovered in Syria, where he started performing.

Choueiri composed the music and lyrics of several great classics of Sabah and Wadih Safi, as well as many titles performed by Dalida Rahme and Majida el-Roumi.

He is the author of the famous song "Ayyam al-Loulou," sung by both Sabah and Samira Toufic, who competed for the song.

BEIRUT — Lebanese singer and musician Elie Choueiri passed away on Wednesday in Beirut, at the age of 84, the state-run National News Agency reported.Choueiri, who was born on Dec. 27, 1939 and is the father of three daughters, received the insignia of Commander of the National Order of Cedar in 2017 for his artistic and musical career.Choueiri began his career in 1960 on Kuwaiti radio, before...