Who is Ziad Rahbani? All about icon Fayrouz son as he dies at 69

Beirut: Renowned Lebanese composer, playwright, and pianist Ziad Rahbani, son of legendary singer Fairuz, passed away on Saturday at the age of 69 after suffering a heart attack.

In a statement from the Beirut hospital where he was being treated, officials confirmed: “At 9:00am, the heart of the great artist and creator Ziad Rahbani stopped beating.” His death marks the end of a creative era that inspired generations of Lebanese and Arab audiences.

Rahbani, the son of Fairuz and composer Assi Rahbani, played a vital role in modernizing Lebanese music. Influenced by jazz legends like Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, he created a unique sound known as “oriental jazz” — blending Western jazz, classical, and funk with Arabic melodies and rhythms.

Though his music was global in influence, Rahbani insisted it remained deeply Lebanese. “My music is not Western,” he once said. “It’s Lebanese, with a different way of expression.”

In addition to music, Rahbani was a celebrated playwright. His first major success came at just 17 with the political satire Nazl el-Sourour (“Happiness Hotel”), a play about workers rising up against inequality. Another fan-favorite, Bennesbeh Labokra Chou? (“What About Tomorrow?”), portrayed post-civil war Beirut through the eyes of a weary bar pianist.

Rahbani’s works reflected Lebanon’s hybrid cultural identity, the scars of civil war, and his own secular, leftist views. While his mother Fairuz became a unifying symbol in a divided nation, Rahbani was known for directly challenging Lebanon’s political elite and sectarianism.

His bold artistic voice earned praise from Lebanese leaders. President Joseph Aoun called him “a living conscience” and “a sincere mirror of the oppressed.” Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said, “Lebanon has lost an exceptional and creative artist, a free voice that remained faithful to the values of justice and dignity.”

Rahbani’s live piano performances in Beirut’s famous Hamra district became legendary. Although he appeared less in public in recent years, younger generations rediscovered his music and plays online — especially during Lebanon’s recent protest movements.

Lebanese actress and former partner Carmen Lebbos mourned him, writing: “I feel like everything is over, I feel like Lebanon has become empty.”

Ziad Rahbani is survived by his mother Fairuz (now 90), his sister Reema, and brother Hali. His loss is deeply felt across the Arab world, where his voice, melodies, and words continue to echo through time.