Mike - 4-18-2004 at 10:45 AM
Hey everybody,
Check out these old photos of Joe Tawadros' grandfather and uncle. Both were highly regarded musicians in their day and age. Below is a little
bio about each. Don't you just love old photos? 
"My grandfather (Mansi Habib) was a well known musician and composer in his day, his known mostly for
composing the Radio Oprette "al souq"(marketplace oprette), also composing/performing briefly for singer Abbass el Beledi, he died very
young though. He was also a well known violinist.
He musical are rare to find, but I know they exist, unfortunately after the revolution, the recordings were lost, ....thats what the employees at the
Egyptian radio told me.
My uncle (Yacoub Mansi Habib) is still playing trumpet in Egypt, and is one of few traditional trumpet players, he has composed many monologues for
comedians and worked with many singers in a career spanning 50yrs. -Shekookoo, Ismail Yasine, Abdel Halim, Adayweya, National Egyptian orchestra, the
Egyptian Folk Orchestra, Nabil Fahmy, Yehia Farid."
Now for the photos:
Grandfather Mansi Habib (middle) on oud, with his band in 1935. He was just 15 years old.
Mansi Habib on oud in 1942.
Mansi Habib playing violin for the Egyptian broadcasting association recorded
in 1957. He died later that year at the age of 37.
Joe's uncle, Yacoub Mansi Habib, in 1965. Was one of the legendary figures of
Egyptian trumpet playing. He played one peice with me in the Cairo concert last February. He is nicknamed the "Miles Davis of
Egypt".
Jameel - 4-18-2004 at 01:11 PM
Mike,
Thanks for the wonderful photos. Old photos are really something. Was there any relationship between the Habibs and Farid Al Altrache? Any idea whose
face that is below Mr. Habib's left hand in the first photo? It looks like a child, but it's just floating there a very short distance off
the ground.
Mike - 4-18-2004 at 08:59 PM
Hey Jameel,
Not sure about any relationship between them and Farido. I actually cropped that picture, and the little kid was sitting down yoga style on the floor
beside Mr. Mansi Habib. It does look kind of eerie though now that I look at it again.
Take care,
Mike
john (beloved) habib - 4-18-2004 at 09:19 PM
wow . . . amazing man. just truly amazing. it's quite touching to see all those pictures and think about their lives and how they were touched
by music, and how the same kind of music touches us. It's a reflection in the past, enlightening our present, informing us of our future . . .
Thanks.
TruePharaoh21 - 4-18-2004 at 09:52 PM
Mike, any idea of recordings of these guys are accessible to us? Considering they come from Joe's family, they must be fantastic musicians. I bet
the musical genius runs in the family.
TP21
Zulkarnain - 4-18-2004 at 09:53 PM
Mike
About that lil kid, kinda scary! Any idea who is he?
spyros mesogeia - 4-19-2004 at 12:36 AM
Respect
Spyros
Zulkarnain - 4-19-2004 at 01:17 AM
Spyros, u kinda scary too!!