BEIRUT – Wadih al-Safi, a Lebanese music legend renowned throughout the Arab world for his singing talent, has died at the age of 91, the official Lebanese National News Agency reported.

He passed away on the night of Friday , Oct. 11, Lebanon’s NNA said.

“He was with his son in Mansouriya (near Beirut) when he began to feel unwell… He was immediately taken to hospital, where he died,” NNA said.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati offered his condolences to Safi’s family and fans, eulogizing his talent.

“Our only consolation is that he has carved his name next to the greats of this country and the world, leaving behind an artistic legacy that will remain for generations and generations to come and an artistic school which proved its uniqueness and depth of its originality,” he said.

Safi.

Safi was often referred to as the “voice of Lebanon” and belonged to a golden age for music in his country and the wider Arab world, along with Lebanese diva Fairuz.

He held Lebanese, French and Brazilian nationality, and contributed to the revitalization of Lebanon’s music, a movement led by the Rahbani brothers.

He was much admired by his contemporaries, with the great Egyptian composer and singer Mohammed Abdel Wahab once marveling “it is impossible that someone should be endowed with such a voice.”

With a catalogue of some 3,000 songs, Safi was best known for popular and folk themes in his music, but also sang Lebanese and Arabic poetry.

He was married with four sons and two daughters.

Safi is popular among Lebanese expatriates, who consider his music the voice of their homeland. The late singer has visited Detroit several times and performed his music live for the Arab American community.