DAMASCUS — Syrian singer
Sabah Fakhri,
considered one of the most famous in the Arab world, died in Damascus on
Tuesday at the age of 88, his son told AFP.
اضافة اعلان
"He died a natural death in Damascus.
His heart stopped beating," said Anas Fakhri, lamenting his father's
passing as a "huge loss for Syrian art."
Born in the northern province of Aleppo and
hailed as one of Syria's greats, Fakhri was known for his masterful delivery of
traditional Syrian songs that combined Arabic poetry with music.
The short stout man modified and popularized
the Qudud Halabiya — a traditional form of Aleppine music that combines lyrics
based on the poetry of Al-Andalus with old religious melodies collected mostly
by musicians from the northern Syrian city.
"He was a living legend and legends do
not die," his son said.
"He will continue to be the legend of
Syria and Aleppo."
A symbol of the golden age of Arabic song,
Fakhri was able to keep his audience in suspense for hours by tirelessly
repeating the verses of classical or contemporary Arabic poems.
In 1968, he broke a record singing for 10
straight hours on tour in the Venezuelan capital Caracas.
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