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Prominent Lebanese Celebreties | Ghassan Saliba
Ghassan Saliba
Ghassan Saliba is a Lebanese singer
well known for his patriotic character, either on stage - through the musical plays - or
through his songs, and for his strong and warm voice. Ghassan has undoubtedly one of the
widest voices among the new generation singers not only in Lebanon but in the whole Arab
world. Click here to listen.
Ghassan was born in "Majdel Akoura", a village in
Jbeil district in Lebanon. His first appearance was in "Studio El Fan" in 1973
where he got the first prize in "The Lebanese Song" category for singing songs
for Wadih Al-Safi such as "Indaq Bab El Bayt Aal Sikkayt", "Baladi",
"Tal El Haki", etc.
Ghassan's singing career began when he took part in
"Petra" (1977), the popular musical play of Rahbani brothers. His main role in
the play was the chief of the caravan who came from "Sour" (Tyr) to give their
belongings to the queen.
Later, he took part in another musical play of Romeo Lahood
called "Hikayit Amal" (Hope Story).
The general public knew Ghassan through his song "Ya
Hilwi Shaarik Darih" which was a big hit at that time (early 80's). Few years later,
Ghassan's success and popularity grew immensely and he was given a title "Julio
El-3arab" (Julio Of Arabs).
In 1988, he starred in "Sayf 840" (Summer of
1840), a musical play for Mansour Rahbani, where he played the role of "Seif El
Bahr", the sailor who returned to his country to fight against the Egyptian Army of
"Ibrahim Basha" who was occupying Lebanon. Ghassan proved in that play to be the
best to sing patriotic songs. Some of the patriotic songs of the play were "Lama3it
Abwa' Essawra", "Zayyinou Essa7a", "Tawwalou Aleina", etc. Also,
the warmth of his voice was clear in "Gharibayn Wu Layl" which is one of the
most famous Lebanese love songs ever.
In summary and till now, Ghassan Saliba has acted in 10
musical plays:
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Petra ("Petra" by Rahbani Brothers) - 1977 |
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Hikayit Amal ("Hope Story" by Romeo Lahoud) -
early 80's |
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Sold ("Sold" by Marwan Najjar/Fouad Aouad) -
1984? |
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Sayf 840 ("Summer of 1840" by Mansour Rahbani) -
1988 |
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Al Wasiyya ("The Testament" by Mansour Rahbani)
- 1994 |
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Hanibaal ("Hannibal" by Ghassan Rahbani) - 1996 |
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Imara Min Hal-Zaman ("A Principality In The
Past" by Talal Haidar/Saeed Akel - W. Shakespeare play) - 1999 |
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Wa Qama Fi al-Yawm Althalith ("He Rose On The Third
Day" by Mansour Rahbani) - 2000 |
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Abou Tayeb al-Mutannabi ("Abou Tayeb
al-Mutannabi" by Mansour Rahbani) - 2001 |
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Moulouk el-Tawaef by Mansour Rahbani - 2003 |
Ghassan has also sung over 150 songs since 1977.
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