A son of Lebanese musical icons, Mr. Rahbani became one himself, with satirical critiques of his country’s dysfunction that melded Arab and Western music.

BEIRUT (AP) — Ziad Rahbani, a visionary Lebanese composer, playwright, pianist and political provocateur, died on Saturday, at the age of 69, according to the state-run National News Agency. The death was confirmed by a person close to Rahbani who spoke on condition of anonymity. The cause of death was not immediately clear.

Ziad Rahbani died at age 69 on Saturday, Lebanese newspaper L'Orient-Le Jour reported, citing a statement from the hospital where he was treated in Beirut. Lebanese Minister of Culture Dr. Ghassan Salameh said in a post on X that the music artist's health had been 'deteriorating' before his death.