BEIRUT: Famed Lebanese singer and actor Samir Yazbek passed away Monday at age 77 after a two-year battle with throat cancer.
Yazbek lost his voice after he was diagnosed with lung cancer years ago, but his songs remained in the hearts of many who loved him in both Lebanon and the Arab world. The Lebanese singer has almost 300 songs under his belt.
Originally from the town of Nehmeh, the late singer and composer was born in 1939 in Rimhala in the town of Aley and began his career at the age of 16.
Yazbek sang alongside many Lebanese and Arab folklore legends such as the late Wadih El Safi, Nasri Shamseddine, Sabah, Joseph Azar, Issam Rajji and others.
His most popular song, Diqqi ya Rababa, which was composed by Romeo Lahoud, reached unparallel fame in both the Arab and international scene, still echoes till this day across radio stations throughout the region.
