Joseph SakrAn ancient Lebanese artist, one of the stars of the beautiful time, whose songs were repeated on the tongues of young and old. His theatrical participation is still present in memory and conscience, with his melodious voice, movements and spontaneity that made him enter hearts and minds without permission.
Who is Joseph Sakr?
BoyJoseph SakrIn the city of Qartaba – Jbeil District / Lebanon in 1942, he died suddenly at the beginning of 1997 at the age of 54. He has a collection of artworks that are still engraved in the memory and repeated by the younger generations in Lebanon and the Arab world. In addition to art, Joseph Saqr worked as a teacher of the French language.
Joseph Saqr’s artistic career
It did not enterJoseph SakrNone of the musical academies, but was a natural composer, musician and theatrical. He studied at the hands of the Rahbani family, and he was inspired by artistic creativity and excellence. He was present with his songs and theatrical participations, to the extent that the late artist M.Nassour RahbaniA member of the family said: “Joseph is our son, he grew up with us, and together we started the long path of art.” And he saw in itZiad Al Rahbanihis throat. And his wide audience considered him his vocal on various occasions.
Joseph Saqr’s artistic beginnings was with the Rahabneh Troupe. He participated in the choir and acted in several plays, most notably “Lulu” and “Mays al-Reem”.
The watershed in Saqr’s artistic life
The turning point in Joseph Saqr’s life was when he was repeating a song behind the scenes, which Ziad Rahbani heard by chance and admired. It was the beginning of a period of creativity for the duo Ziad – Saqr that lasted for a quarter of a century, during which they presented distinctive works that generations have not forgotten to the present day, enriched the Lebanese Art Library, and remained Vivid in the memory of generations, especially those they presented during the Lebanese Civil War, which simulated the suffering of the Lebanese in that period, and with it, Joseph’s name was associated with Ziyad as an essential element in his works.
Notable works of Joseph Sakr
The character of Saqr was imprinted in the memory in the role of the teacher “Palm Al-Tanir” in the play “Saheriya”, during which he presented his most important songs such as “I am the one who misses you”, as well as the role of Abu Laila in the play “An American Long Film” (1980), and Ramez’s role in the play For Bakra Shaw, the role of the Beirut cashier in the play “Concerning dignity and the stubborn people” (1993). The album “Bama Ano”, which was released in 1996, was the last work of the creative duo, who was unique on the artistic scene. Death kidnapped the artist Joseph Saqr in 1997.
The most important songs in the archive of Joseph Sakr
Many songs have been heard in the throats for years and still are, the most important of which are: “Listen, O Reda”, “Ya Zaman of Sectarianism”, “The situation is tired, Laila”, “Ya Bint Al-Moa’un”, “Telfn Ayyash”, “I am the one who misses you” Aisha Wahda Black, “A Hadeer Al Busta”, “Bama Anu”, “Jam Al Dalal” and “Han Al Hadid”, unforgettable songs, which have in every nook and corner and a house of echo and nostalgia, formed a wonderful part of the Lebanese and Arab artistic memory. Songs and works with which the distinguished Lebanese artist will remain a living distinguishing mark over the generations accompanying them in their joys as in their difficult days, and how many of them are in this time, as if I am with the artist Joseph Saqr overlooking us from his perch to say: “What is like today is yesterday, if I were among you, I would not have added songs something.”
Joseph Saqr, the comprehensive artist with a beautiful voice and musical sense, and a creative theater actor who enriched the pioneering theatrical experiences of the creator Ziad Rahbani, is a milestone in the history of singing and the Lebanese and Arab musical theater, and an immortal figure of creativity in the contemporary history of Lebanon.
