Singer Issam Rajji died on Sunday from a brain seizure at the age of 55. Best known for his songs “Laghetik widdinieh Leil” (I Met You in the Night), and “Yawmain wa Shahrain” (Two Days and Two Months), Rajji’s special voice also earned him roles in Lebanon’s top musicals and plays in the 1970s and 1980s with the Rahbani brothers, Sabah, Shoushou and Nabih Aboulhosn.
Raised in the Mount Lebanon village of Kfarshima, Rajji shot to stardom with “Hizzi ya Nawaem” (Nawaem Shake your Waist), which was written by Farid al-Atrash and became an instant hit in the Arab world. He also successfully revived the classic song “ya Salat Zein” (Beautiful Prayer).
Rajji was also an accomplished composer, and besides writing a great deal of his own music, he also wrote for Sabah – “Laylitna Saidi” (Happy is our Night) and “ya Nas Dinyi Doulab” (People, Life is a Wheel) - and Samir Yazbek – “al-Oyoun Assoud” (Black Eyes) and “Dakhlak Berdan” (I Feel Cold).
He worked with a majority of the Arab world’s top music composers such as Philemon Wehbeh and Melhem Barakat. One of his latest collaborations was with choreographer Caracalla for the musical “Belaylet Amar” (Moon Nights), which has been performed at the Casino Du Liban and Baalbek.
According to thisiscyberia.com, when once asked about how he felt about dying, Rajji replied, “I hate death because it separates me from people I love.”
Rajji is survived by his Jordanian wife Nawal Elias, and three children: Layal (23), Rami (21) and Sariya (12) – Albawaba.com
