Music by: Mr. Elias Rahbani

Born in Zahle, Lebanon to Etienne and Alexandra Sakr. Pascale began singing at 4 years old, and was mostly influenced by the music and style of the Rahbani Brothers.

Her professional career started after she met Elias Rahbani by coincidence at a school singing contest.

Marital status: Married to Karl Zacca

Children: Two children: Alexander and Annabel

Education: Graduated in Law in 1987

Hobbies: Swimming, listening to music, exotic restaurants, fun with family.

Places to visit: France, Italy, Las Vegas

Favourite song: Hopelessly devoted to you -- Olivia Newton John

Favourite movie: 6th Sense, Gladiator

Favourite singer: Celine Dion , Fairuz

Favourite actor: Gene Hackman, Kevin Costner, Hugh Grant

Favourite colour: White and Green

Favourite food: Lobster

What do you hate? Lying

What do you like? Peace and love

Favourite book : The Holy Bible

Pascale And Melhem Baraket
She sang many patriotic, classical, religious and love songs that Elias Rahbani composed for her, such as:

* Ya Sarek Makatibi
* Min Alb el Damar
* Sheta''nalek ya Beirut
* Rishoo el Fil
* Baadak ya Habibi
* Rah
* Min Omri
* Waad Ya Lebnan
* and others

She also worked with Wadih El Safi
* Ayouha el Rabu Elahi
* Nassita am Tazkouru
* Dunia al Hawa

Rehearsal Elias Rahbani Concert
Mansour Rahbani - Biddallak Sayfi

Melhem Barakat:
* Gharrabou
* Bteshkili Aameen

Antoine Gebara:
* Ardak el Karami
* Watani

Wajdy Shaya:
* Anta Habibi
* Ya Hami el Hema
* Yemken

Pascale has also worked with Ihssan Mounzer, Charles Chelala, Zaki Nassif and Joseph Khalife amongst others.

From: www.pascalesakr.com

Zaki Nassif is of the first generation Lebanese composers who accompanied the rise of Radio Liban in the 1940s and continues today as a force in Lebanese folk music. Born in Machghara, the largest town in the western Bekaa Valley in 1915 and was involved in music and country folk poetry (zagal, maannaa, ataba, mijana, abu el zuluf, etc) at an early age. He was one of the Big Five who contributed material to Radio Orient and Radio Liban in the 1950s (among whom we find Halim al Roumi, father of Magida, and Tawfic al Basha, Phélémone Wehbé, etc.).
Zaki Nassif does not belong to the Rahbani School of music that married western classical and folk music with old Lebanese traditional gigs. Rather he remained with the old material but with a fresh spirit of the Lebanese country side. His songs are always played on Lebanese TV stations along with scenery from Lebanon (Baladi Habibi, Ya Daya'ati- my village, etc). On his 85th birthday he was interviewed at length in Lebanon by various media venues.




Zaki Nassif is remembered during the civil war for his anthem song "Rajeh Yittammar" (Lebanon will be rebuilt) at a time when violence and destruction were the rule rather than the exception in Lebanon. The song is upbeat and inspires patriotism and is recommended as a staple Zaki Nassif's material.
In 1995, to the surprise of many who thought that Zaki Nassif cannot produce new material, Zaki Nassif composed a full album for Fairuz ("Fairuz Chante Zaki Nassif, Voix de l'Orient label). The CD contains excellent material that shows the variety of expression Zaki Nassif has. Watch for the Andalusian passages, the poem by Khalil Gibran (Ya Bani Oummi) and its entry piece, or the love song Ahwak. The CD is adorned with a beautiful painting of Fairuz that was distributed as a poster by the Chahine Brothers to accompany the release.
Zaki Nassif has many protégé new singers to whom he composes material suitable for their vocal abilities. One interpreter of Zaki's songs is Nicholas al Osta. Zaki Nassif went into dispute with Nidal Huleihel over copyright regarding a Baalbeck folk music material for Dabké dance.
To the dismay of his admirers, Zaki Nassif remained a man with limited income as his 60 years in the music industry did not win him a decent living. This is the case with many Lebanese musicians.
Zaki Nassif's albums are available for sale every where as he still very popular and a household name in Lebanon. We know of at least 4 CDs issued in the past 5 years by Voix de l'Orient. To the delight of the listeners, Zaki Nassif's CDs are usually crammed with over 20 songs or 70 minutes. This is similar to Fairuz's reissues of her old material which the label reprineted with remastering in Greece. For lovers of Lebanese folk music and song Zaki Nassif is definitely a must.
Zaki's Biography By Kamal Dib

Contrary to what have been said, and although she is proud that she belongs to the Arab world, Majida is Lebanese. She was born in Tyr, a city in South Lebanon which historically was the ancestor of the city of Carthage in Tunisia. Her grandfather had some business in Palestine and built strong relations and friendships with the people over there.

When Majida was around six, the family moved to Kfarshima, a small town to the south east of Beirut. The town has a quiet nature and a lovely atmosphere, probably two things that show in Majida''s personality. When you talk to Majida, you will be surprised with the difference between her on-stage and her real personality. She is so strong, powerful and ''loud'' when singing; so quiet, shy and calm when she talks to you.

Kfarshima is also known for its non-fundamentalist, but still religious environment; Majida was raised on such principles as to love, care and respect everyone, believe and trust God and rely on him for His blessings and support. Majida is well known to be a devoted believer; she reads the holy books and prays every single day, but most important is that she acts upon her beliefs, and probably that is why she is optimistic and always looking forward to a better future.

Many people have come to identify Majida with ''Sufis''. Majida enjoys reading, and besides the Arabic poetry, she reads a lot of philosophy; that is clearly reflected in the way she comprehends things, deals with others and manages her life. When you sit and talk with her, you will think that you are in the presence of a lecturer or a philosopher, and in any case, u will end up feeling comfortable with yourself, and most important, being more attached to that unique personality of hers.

Although being a devoted believer, Majida isnt a religious fanatic; she admires all religions and their principles, but most important, she respects the human as an entity of its own and admires freedom regardless of one''s own nationality, gender, age or race.

Kfarshima presented many singers, musicians, poets and writers, like the late Filimon Wehbi. Growing up in such an artistic environment and living in the same house with Halim El Roumi (the very same person who discovered Fairouz), Majida''s interest in music started to show at an early age when she used to listen to the works of the prominent figures at that time (Umm Kulthoum, Abd El Wahab, Asmahan....). She attracted the attention of her family and neighbors and began to sing as a hobby in front of them. One of her early songs was a religious song called ''Your Birth'' (Miladak).

A cousin of hers was fascinated with her voice and thought that she could hit high if she pursued singing as a profession. However, the big obstacle was Halim El Roumi himself; perhaps the man knew more than anyone else did how difficult it was to become and stay a good artist and still live a decent life. He refused Majida''s participation in a TV program for amateurs, ''Studio of Art'' (Studio El Fan). Nonetheless, Majida appeared on TV to sing songs for Asmahan and Leila Mourad, like "O''Birds" (Ya Toyour), "My Heart is My Guide" (Ana Albi Dalili), "The Joyful Nights in Vienna" (Layali El Ouns Fi Vienna)... The jury was surprised with her performance and awarded her with the first prize with excellence. The viewers were stunned by her strong crystal voice and unique self-trust; "from her first appearance, we fell in love with the tanned baby face and the long black hair" says one, while another comments "as soon as I heard her voice, I was drawn to sit in front of the screen and listen to her chant with admiration".

A star was born...

Halim El Roumi couldn''t refuse anymore and Majida got his blessings and advice: to perceive singing as a mission, how to respect and be respected and how important an education is, especially for an artist.

But the civil war broke out in Lebanon in 1975, only a year before Majida could obtain her BA in Arabic Literature from the Lebanese University. Majida expresses her eagerness to go back to the university and finish her studies, even at this age, after this fame.

In 1977, Majida got engaged to a businessman from Byblos (Jbeil). Since then, Antoine has become the manager of Majida''s work and her life-time partner. They were blessed with two daughters: Hala who is majoring in Interior Design at a university in Beirut and Nour who is still at school.


Source: Majida Fans
http://www.geocities.com/majida_fans