Elias Rahbani

Updated: March 14, 2026

Name: Elias Rahbani
Date of Birth: c. 1938
Date of Death: January 4, 2021 (aged 83)

Biography & Career:

Elias Rahbani (c. 1938 – 4 January 2021) was a prolific Lebanese composer, lyricist, and orchestra conductor, celebrated as one of the three legendary Rahbani Brothers and a towering figure in Arabic and world music. He passed away at the age of 83 in Beirut, leaving behind a legacy of over 2,000 songs and scores for more than 20 films.

Born in 1938 in Antelias, Lebanon, he was a renowned Lebanese lyricist, composer, orchestral arranger and conductor. One of the three Rahbani brothers, he was probably the most prolific in terms of recordings.

He was a promoter of the Lebanese tradition of Occidental song (since 1961), especially French, and won numerous awards and much critical acclaim for his works.

He composed around 800 pieces (500 oriental & 300 occidental), not including musical scores for film and theater.