Azar Habib

Azar Habib was born on the 28th of November 1945 in Marj Oyoun, Lebanon. He lived there till he was four years old and then his family moved to Beirut. As a child, Azar loved painting and drawing which led him to study Painting and Architecture when he grew up.

At the age of 18, Azar's interests were focused on music and that was when he started playing the guitar. In 1962, along with some of his friends, Azar formed a music band and called it "Los Diavalos" and later changed its name to "Los Cavalieros". The band used to sing the famous western songs of that time for Enrico Mascias, Johnny Holiday and all the stars of that era.

Azar habib is considered to be one of the very first creators of the new style in music at that time which mixed western music with eastern music. Critiques and artists of the time believe that it is Azar Habib who made it possible for modern music to benefit from the light western rythm and the meaningful eastern words and rich music style.


Azar Habib.. The Lebanese Patriot

Unlike most singers who sang for the love of their countries, Azar Habib dealt with this love inside him for 'Home' in a different unique way. Instead of singing to the cedars and the green mountains and the snow falling on top of the meadows in winter, Azar sang for the people inside 'Home'. Instead of singing to a specific country, he sang to the lover, the friend, the father, the daughter inside the country. Azar said, "each country in the world has its own charm and beauty. I don't want to speak of the beauty of my country, I want to speak of the beauty of the people in any country. I want people from all nationailities to listen to my songs and think, this is MY country".

Some of these patriotic songs are: Ente Rfee'ey Ya Sadee'ey, Khalleek A Sawa, Ya Rayeh, Ytawel Omrak, Khayem ya Aman


Marj Oyoun.. Azar Habib Hometown..

"Marj Oyoun" or, as many Lebanese people call it, "Jedaidat Marj Oyoun" is a village in the South of Lebanon that extends south from the present town to the Palestinian frontier and is surrounded on three sides by hills. It is also the largest Lebanese town of the South Beqaa and as the district headquarters, as well as being the market center of the region. It has always been an army garrison town, guarding the nearby (8 kms.) Palestinian frontier, and being in a commanding position on its hillside, provides many scenic views of the surrounding countryside.

The town owes its name to a large number of water sources and springs forming small rivers, which made the surrounding plain very fertile.It has a wide variety of trees and is famous for its beautiful landscape and mild climate. Other legends say that the name "Marj Oyoun" may have come from the ancient lost city of "Lyyon" by later confusion with "Oyoun", the Arabic plural for "spring". "Marj" is simply "Meadow", thus "Marj Oyoun" is the "Meadow of Springs".

From: http://www.azarhabib.net/biography.html

Majida El Roumi (Arabic: ماجدة الرومي‎, also transliterated as Majida Al Roumi) was born in Kfarshima, Lebanon on December 13, 1956. She is a Lebanon singer who started her musical career in the early 1970s when she participated in the talent show, Studio El Fan on Télé Liban and won the gold medal for best female singer. Since her appearance on television at the tender age of 16, she has become one of the most successful and respected singers of the Arab world as well as a UN Goodwill Ambassador.

Old Lebanese Songs - آغني لبنانية قديمة