Marcel Khalife

Marcel Khalife - Singers, Birthday and Childhood

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Marcel Khalife Biography Stories 

Marcel Khalife's Personal Details

Marcel Khalifé is a Lebanese musician and singer

InformationDetail
BirthdayJune 10, 1950
NationalityLebanese
FamousHumanitarian, Composers, Singers
SpousesYolla Khalifé
Known asMarcel Khalifé, Khalifé, Marcel
ChildrensBachar Khalife, Rami Khalifé
Birth PlaceAmsheet
GenderMale
Sun SignGemini
Born inAmsheet
Famous asComposer

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Marcel Khalife's photo

Who is Marcel Khalife?

Marcel Khalifé is a Lebanese musician and singer; he is one of the most celebrated artists in the Arab world. Born in Beirut, he developed a keen interest in music at an early age and was encouraged by his parents to pursue a career in it. After being admitted to the school of music, he started exploring the possibilities of oud, a musical instrument, and became proficient in it. He became a highly talented and skillful oud player whose music was remarkably free from constraints. Subsequently, he started making compositions which received critical acclaim both in the Arab nations and worldwide. His work emerged as the combination of traditional Arabic music and Western elements like the piano. He makes use of modern Arab poetry, and composes songs on topics primarily related to nationalism and revolution. He creates original music, which is free of all pre-established rules. His style is characterized by integration between Arab music and Western musical instruments. He has performed at various concerts and prestigious festivals around the world. His creativity, innovations and significant contributions towards the promotion of arts and culture in the Arab world has earned him the love and respect of people across the globe

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Childhood & Early Life

He was born on June 10, 1950, in Amchit, a small coastal village north of Beirut. When he was 16 years old, he lost his mother due of cancer.

He received his first lessons in music from Hanna Karam, a retired military man in the village who saw through his talent and advised his parents to support Marcel in pursuing a career in music.

He attended the National Academy of Music in Beirut where he started studying the oud, a pear-shaped stringed instrument, and later contributed towards exploring the potentials of the oud.

Career

Between 1970 and 1975, he served as a teacher at the conservatory in Beirut and also worked at several other local institutions. Simultaneously, he toured the Middle East, North Africa, Europe as well as the United States and gave solo performances on the oud.

In 1972, he established a musical group in his native village with the objective of reviving its musical legacy and Arabic choral singing. The group delivered its early performances in Lebanon during the 1975 Lebanese civil war.

In 1976, he founded the ‘Al Mayadeen Ensemble’ band and subsequently performed at numerous festivals and concerts around the world. Accompanied by his musical ensemble, he conducted musical shows in Arab countries, Europe, the United States, Canada, South America, Australia, and Japan.

Over the years, his lyrical and instrumental recordings were released through many musical albums. These include: ‘Promises of the Storm’ (1976), ‘Rain Songs’ (1977), ‘Where from, do I Enter the Homeland?’ (1978), ‘Weddings’ (1979), ‘At the Borders’ (1979), ‘Stripped Bare’ (1980), ‘Happiness’ (1981), ‘The Bridge’ (1983).

Some of his later releases were: ‘Dreamy Sunrise’ (1984), ‘Ahmad Al Arabi’ (1984), ‘Peace Be With you’ (1989), ‘Ode To A Homeland’ (1990), ‘Arabic Coffeepot’ (1995), ‘Jadal Oud Duo’ (1996), ‘Magic Carpet’ (1998), ‘Concerto Al Andalus’ (2002), ‘Caress’ (2004), and ‘Taqasim’ (2007).

Some of his dance compositions include: ‘The Marvels of the Prodigy’ (1974), ‘The Black Tents’ (1978), ‘A shot of Glory’ (1980), ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ (1981), ‘Echoes’ (1981), ‘Summer Night's Dream’ (1992), and ‘Andalusia’ (2000).

He also made compositions for several film documentaries such as ‘Kamal Jumblatt’ (1976), ‘The Martyr’ (1977), ‘All for the Homeland’ (1978), ‘Whispers’ (1979), and ‘Maarouf Saad’ (1979). He also scored music for fiction films ‘The Half meter Incident’ (1981), and ‘The Box of the World’ (2003).

Major Works

The popularity of his band ‘Al Mayadeen Ensemble’ went well beyond Lebanon and its music was enthusiastically welcomed by the audiences around the world. Some of the band’s most performed songs were ‘Umi’ (My Mother), ‘Rita w'al-Bundaqiya’ (Rita and the Rifle), and ‘Jawaz al-Safr’ (Passport), based on Darwish's poetry.

Awards & Achievements

In 1974, he won ‘The Arab Music Foundation Award’. The following year, he received ‘The American Folkloric Festival Award’.

In 1980, he was conferred with ‘The Cultural Achievement Award’ in Tunis, Tunisia. The following year, he was awarded ‘The Jerusalem Medal’ in Beirut, Lebanon.

In 2001, he was presented with the ‘National Palestine Medal for Arts and Culture’. He donated the money received in the award to the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music in Palestine. The conservatory then established an annual music competition under the title of ‘The Marcel Khalifé National Music Competition’, in his honor.

In 2005, he was named ‘UNESCO Artist for Peace’. In the same year, he also received ‘The Lebanese Cedar Medal’, the Presidential Award of Lebanon.

In 2008, he was awarded the ‘World Lebanese Cultural Union Medal’ in Beirut, Lebanon. The same year, he also became the recipient of the ‘Cultural Movement Award’.

Personal Life & Legacy

He is married to Yolla Khalife, a singer and songwriter. The couple has two sons: Rami Khalife and Bachar Khalife, both of whom are talented composers

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Marcel Khalife biography timelines

  • // 10th Jun 1950
    He was born on June 10, 1950, in Amchit, a small coastal village north of Beirut. When he was 16 years old, he lost his mother due of cancer.
  • // 1970 To 1975
    Between 1970 and 1975, he served as a teacher at the conservatory in Beirut and also worked at several other local institutions. Simultaneously, he toured the Middle East, North Africa, Europe as well as the United States and gave solo performances on the oud.
  • // 1972 To 1975
    In 1972, he established a musical group in his native village with the objective of reviving its musical legacy and Arabic choral singing. The group delivered its early performances in Lebanon during the 1975 Lebanese civil war.
  • // 1974 To 2000
    Some of his dance compositions include: ‘The Marvels of the Prodigy’ (1974), ‘The Black Tents’ (1978), ‘A shot of Glory’ (1980), ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ (1981), ‘Echoes’ (1981), ‘Summer Night's Dream’ (1992), and ‘Andalusia’ (2000).
  • // 1974
    In 1974, he won ‘The Arab Music Foundation Award’. The following year, he received ‘The American Folkloric Festival Award’.
  • // 1976
    In 1976, he founded the ‘Al Mayadeen Ensemble’ band and subsequently performed at numerous festivals and concerts around the world. Accompanied by his musical ensemble, he conducted musical shows in Arab countries, Europe, the United States, Canada, South America, Australia, and Japan.
  • // 1976 To 1981
    Over the years, his lyrical and instrumental recordings were released through many musical albums. These include: ‘Promises of the Storm’ (1976), ‘Rain Songs’ (1977), ‘Where from, do I Enter the Homeland?’ (1978), ‘Weddings’ (1979), ‘At the Borders’ (1979), ‘Stripped Bare’ (1980), ‘Happiness’ (1981), ‘The Bridge’ (1983).
  • // 1976 To 2003
    He also made compositions for several film documentaries such as ‘Kamal Jumblatt’ (1976), ‘The Martyr’ (1977), ‘All for the Homeland’ (1978), ‘Whispers’ (1979), and ‘Maarouf Saad’ (1979). He also scored music for fiction films ‘The Half meter Incident’ (1981), and ‘The Box of the World’ (2003).
  • // 1980
    In 1980, he was conferred with ‘The Cultural Achievement Award’ in Tunis, Tunisia. The following year, he was awarded ‘The Jerusalem Medal’ in Beirut, Lebanon.
  • // 1984 To 2007
    Some of his later releases were: ‘Dreamy Sunrise’ (1984), ‘Ahmad Al Arabi’ (1984), ‘Peace Be With you’ (1989), ‘Ode To A Homeland’ (1990), ‘Arabic Coffeepot’ (1995), ‘Jadal Oud Duo’ (1996), ‘Magic Carpet’ (1998), ‘Concerto Al Andalus’ (2002), ‘Caress’ (2004), and ‘Taqasim’ (2007).
  • // 2001
    In 2001, he was presented with the ‘National Palestine Medal for Arts and Culture’. He donated the money received in the award to the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music in Palestine. The conservatory then established an annual music competition under the title of ‘The Marcel Khalifé National Music Competition’, in his honor.
  • // 2005
    In 2005, he was named ‘UNESCO Artist for Peace’. In the same year, he also received ‘The Lebanese Cedar Medal’, the Presidential Award of Lebanon.
  • // 2008
    In 2008, he was awarded the ‘World Lebanese Cultural Union Medal’ in Beirut, Lebanon. The same year, he also became the recipient of the ‘Cultural Movement Award’.

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Marcel Khalife's FAQ

  • What is Marcel Khalife birthday?

    Marcel Khalife was born at 1950-06-10

  • Where is Marcel Khalife's birth place?

    Marcel Khalife was born in Amsheet

  • What is Marcel Khalife nationalities?

    Marcel Khalife's nationalities is Lebanese

  • Who is Marcel Khalife spouses?

    Marcel Khalife's spouses is Yolla Khalifé

  • Who is Marcel Khalife childrens?

    Marcel Khalife's childrens is Bachar Khalife, Rami Khalifé

  • What is Marcel Khalife's sun sign?

    Marcel Khalife is Gemini

  • How famous is Marcel Khalife?

    Marcel Khalife is famouse as Composer