Melhem Barakat (; 15 August 1945 – 28 October 2016), also known as Melhim Barakat or Abou Majd, was a Lebanese singer, songwriter, and composer. Barakat was a renowned singer in Lebanon and the wider Arab world. He toured Australia, South America, Canada, and the United States.
Early life Barakat was born on 15 August 1945, in Kfarshima, Lebanon. He inherited his affinity for music from his father, who was a carpenter and taught Melhem how to play the oud. In 1960, Barakat dropped out of school at the age of 15 and enrolled in the National Institute of Music without his father's knowledge. He studied music theory, solfège and Eastern singing. He would drop out of the institute four years later on the advice of Philemon Wehbe, beginning his professional career.
Career Barakat started his career in the 1960s. He participated as an actor and singer in many of the Rahbani brothers' musicals and operettas. In 1968, he left the brothers to pursue a solo career.
Since the 1990s, Melhem Barakat had several popular songs, such as "Habibi Enta," which was later sung by his ex-wife May Hariri. He also collaborated with Najwa Karam, Karol Sakr, Shatha Hassoun, and Majida El Roumi.
Musical style Barakat composed music for some of the best Arab singers of the past century, including Sabah, Samira Tewfik, Wadih El Safi and Majida El Roumi ("I'tazalt al-Gharam"). Barakat was known for his energetic songs that mixed classical music with his personal improvisations.
Notable songs Year Original Title Translation Songwriter(s) Label1975Ya Shaweesh El Karakon - with Fairuz & William Hasswani - from the musical Ya'eesh Ya'eesh --- Assi & Mansour Rahbani Voix de l'OrientBelghi Kul Mawaidi - duet with Georgette Sayegh I'll Cancel All My Appointments Melhem Barakat, Maroun Karam 1978 Ya Ahl El Habayeb - from the musical Amira Zmourod Parents of the Lovers Romeo Lahoud1980 Can El Zaman W Kan - a.k.a. Hanna Al Sakran Hanna the Drunk Elias RahbaniShu Natir What Are You Waiting For Assi & Mansour RahbaniHabbeytak Ou Behebbak I Loved You and I Still Do 1981 Wahdi Ana On My Own Ghadi Rahbani, Marwan Rahbani1994 Ala Baby Wa'if Amarain The Beautiful One at My Door Melhem Barakat, Shafiq al-Mughrabi Relax-InYa Hobbi Elly Ghab My Love Who's Gone Melhem Barakat, Mounir Abdel Nour 1996 Keef How Melhem Barakat, Michel Geha 2006 I'tazalt Al Gharam - performed by Majida El Roumi I Forgot About Love Melhem Barakat, Nizar Francis, Majida El Roumi EMI 2009 Taa Nensa Let's Forget Melhem Barakat, Nizar Francis Music Box 2016 Kermal Al Nisyan In Memory
Personal life Barakat was first married to Souad Feghali, the sister of Lebanese singer Sabah. He later married Randa Azar with whom he had three children: Majd (hence Melhem's alias Abou Majd), Waad and Ghinwa. His third and final marriage was to Lebanese singer and actress May Hariri, with whom he had a child, Melhem Junior, before the couple divorced. He was Antiochian Orthodox Christian.
Death He died of prostate cancer on 28 October 2016 at Hôtel-Dieu de France hospital in Achrafieh, Lebanon. He was 71. His funeral took place at Saint Nicolas Church in Achrafieh, Beirut. Many Lebanese singers and politicians were present at the funeral mass, including Ragheb Alama, Fares Karam, Majida El Roumi, Rola Saad and Barakat's ex-wife May Hariri.
Tribute On August 15, 2021, Google celebrated his 76th birthday with a Google Doodle.
References
External links
Melhem Barakat’s 76th Birthday - Google Doodle