Melhem Barakat (Arabic: ملحم بركات; 15 August 1945 – 28 October 2016), also known as Melhim Barakat or Abou Majd, was a Lebanese singer, songwriter, and composer. Barakat was a well-renowned singer in Lebanon and the wider Arab world. He toured Australia, South America, Canada, and the United States.[1]
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 into 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 at the advice of Philemon Wehbe, beginning his professional career.[2]
Career
Barakat started his career in the 1960s. He participated as an actor and singer in many of the Rahbani brothers' musicals and operettas.[3] In 1968, he left the brothers to pursue a solo career.[2]
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.[6]
Notable songs
Year
Original Title
Translation
Songwriter(s)
Label
1975
Ya Shaweesh El Karakon - with Fairuz & William Hasswani - from the musical Ya'eesh Ya'eesh
Barakat was first married to Souad Feghali, the sister of Lebanese singer Sabah.[7] Then 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.[8] He was Antiochian Orthodox Christian.[9]
Death
He died from 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.[9]
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.[10]
