Lebanon's famed musician and composer Elias Rahbani dies aged 83

Multi-faceted Lebanese musician and composer Elias Rahbani, author of hundreds of melodies and renowned throughout the Arab world for his collaborations with the song legend Fairuz, died this Monday at the age of 83 for reasons that are not known. 

"Elias Rahbani, another branch of the Rahbani tree, fell after a busy career in classical music production. My warmest condolences to his wife, children, family and loved ones," lamented Lebanon's Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri on his Twitter account. 

He was a conductor, musician, producer and composer of countless songs for film, television, theatre and for artists of the stature of Fairuz, one of the last living legends of Arabian song and who was married to the late brother of Elias, Assi Rahbani. 

In fact, Assi and Mansur formed the renowned Rahbani Brothers duo, which was catapulted to fame alongside Fairuz in the 1950s and of which Elias is often considered a third leg, although he was too young at the time and spent much of his career as an independent artist. 

The three of them wrote some of the most outstanding songs by Fairuz, one of the most important voices in Lebanon in the last century and a symbol of the small Mediterranean country, adored by all sides and religious groups. 

Celebrities, artists and political leaders have turned to social networks to bid farewell to this important name in Lebanese and Arab music, with a long list of regional and international awards. 

"Today we lost the happiest notes in the history of Lebanese music," said Beirut-based producer and composer Jean Marie Riachi on his Twitter account.