Nasri Shamseddine
Encyclopedia
Nasri Shamseddine (1927 - 1983) was a Lebanese
singer and actor. His recordings remain very popular in the Arab
world. He performed in several films and was associated for many years with the Lebanese singer Fairuz
.
Shamseddine was born Nasreddine Moustapha Shamesedine in the village of Joun
, in the southern part of the Chouf
mountains. As a young man, he spent time in Alexandria
and Cairo
unsuccessfully looking for work in films. He returned to Beirut
and joined the choir of the Lebanese state radio.
In the late 1950s, he joined the Lebanese Popular Troupe of the Rahbani brothers
, but left in 1960 to embark on a solo career.
Shamseddine performed with Fairuz from 1960 until little after the beginning of the Lebanese Civil War
in 1978. His last appearance in a play with Fairuz was in 1978 in Petra. His last concert with her was in London
in 1978, where they sang "Dabket Lebnan" together.
Shamseddine suffered a heart attack shortly before a concert in Damascus
in 1983. He later collapsed and died on stage during the performance due to a cardiac arrest
which followed the attack.
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
singer and actor. His recordings remain very popular in the Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
world. He performed in several films and was associated for many years with the Lebanese singer Fairuz
Fairuz
Nouhad Wadi Haddad , famously known as Fairuz is a Lebanese singer who is widely considered to be the most famous living singer in the Arab world and one of the best known of all time...
.
Shamseddine was born Nasreddine Moustapha Shamesedine in the village of Joun
Joun
Joun is a Lebanese village sitting on seven hills in the Chouf district of Mount Lebanon at a distant 13 kilometers from the city of Sidon....
, in the southern part of the Chouf
Chouf District
Chouf is a historic region of Lebanon, as well as an administrative district in the governorate of Mount Lebanon....
mountains. As a young man, he spent time in Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
and Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
unsuccessfully looking for work in films. He returned to Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
and joined the choir of the Lebanese state radio.
In the late 1950s, he joined the Lebanese Popular Troupe of the Rahbani brothers
Rahbani brothers
The Rahbani Brothers , Assi Rahbani and Mansour Rahbani , were Lebanese composers, musicians, songwriters, authors, playwrights/dramatists, philosophers, and poets...
, but left in 1960 to embark on a solo career.
Shamseddine performed with Fairuz from 1960 until little after the beginning of the Lebanese Civil War
Lebanese Civil War
The Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 230,000 civilian fatalities. Another one million people were wounded, and today approximately 350,000 people remain displaced. There was also a mass exodus of...
in 1978. His last appearance in a play with Fairuz was in 1978 in Petra. His last concert with her was in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1978, where they sang "Dabket Lebnan" together.
Shamseddine suffered a heart attack shortly before a concert in Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
in 1983. He later collapsed and died on stage during the performance due to a cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest, is the cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the heart to contract effectively...
which followed the attack.