ARC Music announced today that Egyptian percussionist and composer Hossam Ramzy passed away on Tuesday, September 10th, 2019. He was 65. Hossam was undergoing treatment for a heart condition in Brazil, though the condition was very advanced.
Known as Egypt’s Ambassador of Rhythm, Hossam succeeded in injecting Egyptian rhythms into multiple projects. Hossam Ramzy worked with Jimmy Page & Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin), Shakira, Ricky Martin and A.R. Rahman, appeared on recordings by Peter Gabriel and Jay-Z, and composed music for numerous films.
Throughout the last three decades, Hossam traveled the world, educating in the art of true Egyptian dance. His concepts of dance and rhythm helped tens-of-thousands of dancers and percussionists perfect their techniques. During this time, he also found the time to release over thirty albums of Egyptian dance and world music, and produce countless more for artists from all around the world.
More about Hossam Ramzy .
Author: World Music Central News Room
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A great loose to the music world in his passing.
What a sad news..in Italy we remember the wonderful concerts when he played in Pino Daniele’s band.
He was a wonderful musician and Im so glad I was able to participate in a workshop with him. I learned a lot about the history and rhythms of the tabla.
Very sad to hear this. He did so much to bring Egyptian and Middle Eastern music and percussion to prominence in the UK and elsewhere. A warm and charismatic man who made a unique contribution to music throughout his adult life – and worked hard to achieve this.
I am late, I know. That is a big lost: not only for the Arabic people, for the entire world. I love all the musics Hossam Ramzy made and especially the ones he made with Phil Thornton. Hossam Ramzy is a legend and the world will always remember him.
I only found out today, August 2020 that Sam, the name I knew him by, back in the 70s in London has died last September. I met him in Hyde Park in the long hot summer of 76, and he became my boyfriend and we moved into a flat in Holland Park. As well as practising on his drums, he was a great cook and we talked long and both had big dreams. I sang in one of his bands for a while and then we separated in 78. It was strange to find out his passing, sitting with friends in Regents Park on one of London’s hottest days remarking how it reminded me of being with Hossam in the 70s in a park such as this. It has made me very sad. He was such a charismatic, wonderful man. I was hoping he would play at Womad again now …..