1. Marcel Khalife is a Lebanese musical composer, singer, and oud player.
14 Facts About Marcel Khalife
1. 2.
In July 2009, Marcel Khalife returned to Tunisia to perform on the stage of the Roman amphitheater to a full house, as part of the 45th International Festival of Carthage.
3.
Marcel Khalife later dedicated a song to the "revolutionary leader Che Guevara".
4.
Marcel Khalife studied the oud at the Beirut National Conservatory of Music and graduated in 1971.
5.
Marcel Khalife formed in 1972 a musical group in Amchit to revive his village's musical heritage, and it performed for the first time in Lebanon.
6.
Marcel Khalife formed in 1976 Al Mayadine Ensemble, which toured Arabic-speaking countries, Europe, the United States, Canada, South America, Australia, and Japan.
7.
Marcel Khalife was awarded the American Folkloric Festival Award in 1975, the National Palestine Medal for Arts and Culture in 2001, the UNESCO Artist for Peace award in 2005, the Lebanese government Cedar Medal in 2005, and the Charles Cros Award for World Music in 2008.
8.
Marcel Khalife performed globally during his career, including throughout much of the Arab world.
9.
Marcel Khalife's eldest son, Juilliard School graduate Rami Khalife, is a pianist and composer.
10.
Marcel Khalife has composed soundtracks for films, documentaries, and fiction, produced by Maroun Baghdadi, Oussama Mohammed, Sophi Sayhf Eddin, and Samir Zikra.
11.
Marcel Khalife's music is featured in the documentary Occupied Minds produced by Jamal Dajani and David Michaelis.
12.
Marcel Khalife's music featured in the documentary film Sons of Eilaboun by Hisham Zreiq.
13.
Marcel Khalife gave a talk on 12 March 2013, at the American University of Sharjah about his latest CD, The Fall of the Moon, and his longing towards the late Mahmoud Darwish.
14.
Marcel Khalife spoke about the prospects of publishing his autobiography in two volumes.