Palestinian musician Hussein Nazek passed away at the age of 81. He was one of the most prominent figures dedicated to Palestinian and Syrian heritage, as well as the founder and director of the Palestinian Al-Ashiqin Ensemble. The Artists Union and the cultural and musical community mourned Nazek, who was born in Jerusalem in 1942. After the city fell under Israeli occupation, he moved to several places before settling in Damascus in 1969.
Nazek began his long journey in composition, songwriting, and orchestration, playing various instruments in several musical groups, both Western and Eastern. He participated in the establishment of a traveling band. Upon moving to Syria, he worked in Syrian radio and television, participating in their diverse programs as a performer and composer, relying on his musical memory and the memories of many Palestinian elders in Damascus.
According to a report from "Amad" announcing the death of the late artist, Nazek sought to promote Palestinian heritage by establishing and contributing to numerous artistic groups in Palestinian gatherings in Syria, most notably the Al-Ashiqin Ensemble, in addition to launching a project to revive Palestinian heritage.
His melodies were performed by some of the most prominent Syrian artists, such as Sabah Fakhri, Mustafa Nasri, Samir Halimi, and Naeem Hamdi. Nazek was a member of the Arab Music Assembly and was among the foremost individuals concerned with Palestinian heritage in all its forms. He also composed the soundtracks for many Syrian and Arab television series, plays, and films, in addition to his music for famous children's programs such as "Iftah Ya Simsim" and "Al-Manahil." Moreover, he played a significant role in discovering and launching many prominent Arab artists over the decades. The Palestinian Ministry of Culture selected the distinguished Palestinian artist and musician Hussein Nazek as the Cultural Personality of the Year 2023.
