CAIRO, March 1 (MENA) - The board of the Musical Professions Syndicate mourned veteran composer Helmy Bakr who died Friday at 87 after a struggle with illness that lasted for several months.

“We have lost a great musician whose melodies will always remain treasured in the minds of his fans,” it said in a statement, extending its sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the departed, hoping that God will grant them patience and solace.

Bakr was born in Cairo's Hadaeq Al-Qubbah district on Dec. 6, 1937. He graduated from the Higher Institute of Arabic Music.

The renowned composer wrote music for singers (Warda Al-Jazairia, Abdel Latif El Telbany, Maher El Attar, Nagat Al-Saghira, Mohamed El Helw, Ali El Haggar and Medhat Saleh), as well as others.

Bakr composed music of 48 plays, including Sayyidati Al-Gamilah, Hawadit and Mosika fi el Hay el Sharqy.

He was honored with a number of prizes, notably the prize of the best Arab composer in 1975 and the excellence award from the Culture Ministry. (MENA)

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