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This Lebanese Singer Was On The Billboard Charts In The 80s!
The Lebanese music industry is one of many industries that Lebanese people take pride in because of its impressive evolution over the years and its ability to make impact, Lebanon and beyond. Back in the 80s, there were so many rising Lebanese stars, but did you know that there was a singer whose track landed on the US Billboard charts?
Gus Farah is a talented Lebanese singer and songwriter, and his journey started when he was only 14 years old. With a growing interest in music, Farah started a band called “Hickories” back in 1977 alongside Michael Awad, Ralph Taweel, and Zahi Aafief when he was only 15.
At the age of 17, Farah participated in a music festival at Beirut’s Holiday Inn and won first prize, one among many prizes he won in his early years. One of his most prominent wins was in 1980, when he won first prize in Rostok, Germany at an international music festival that hosted around 99 participants from all over the world.
Over the years, Farah continued to play at music festivals and band contests while working on jingles for commercials and advertisements. He also met with numerous international record companies when he left for Belgium and Paris in 1979, then worked with manager Rafik Tamba in 1980 to produce his first album “Echoes”, which was recorded in PDR Studios in Athens, Greece.
The album was released in 1982, earning great success worldwide as Farah was the first artist in Lebanon to release music in English. Many tracks from the album entered the Billboards World Top 20 for 8 consecutive months, and the track “Love Is Free For All” placed in the Top 10.
His love for music has not subsided, as he continues to perform gigs across Lebanon. So if you would like to relive the 80s or have a chat with one of the pioneering figures in Lebanese music history, then make sure to keep an eye out for his upcoming gigs.
Farah continues to express his love for the arts, not only in his music but also as a painter. You can find his amazing artworks on Instagram!
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