How William Safi United Cultures Through Music From Beirut to Brooklyn

Words Melanie Safi Photos Courtesy of the Safi family

William at Hotel Reviera, Beirut

William Safi grew up in the charming neighborhood of Achrafieh in Beirut, surrounded by his five brothers and sister. His journey into music began unexpectedly when his brother Antoine brought an accordion home one day but lost interest in it. William, however, fell in love with the instrument, and before he knew it, started playing for fun with friends on the streets of Klayaat and Aley as a teenager. Through mutual friends, William was introduced to pianist Elie Bassil, and he joined the band Elie was part of, as an accordionist. Around this time, William took piano lessons at his favorite music store in Beirut and began to take playing more seriously.

William Safi

Beirut in the 1960s was a cultural and musical hub where many Lebanese musical talents emerged. William found himself immersed in this rapidly growing, vibrant music scene. Performing night-time gigs at popular venues around the city, he had the opportunity to meet iconic musicians, including the legendary Elias Rahbani one night in what is now Zaytouna Bay. William recalls this period of music as exciting and diverse, with genres like bolero, tango, waltz, and slow ballads being the most popular.

The Souls band

Together with drummer Samir Sayraween and guitarist Nabil Ghazwei, William decided to form a three-piece band. As the bandleader, William alternated between keys, accordion, and piano whilst taking charge of organizing their performances and securing venues. These early experiences in event planning and promotion would later set the stage for his career in NYC. Traveling across Lebanon in his Fiat, William and the band, known as “The Souls,” performed at some of the country’s most iconic venues, most notably, Hotel Bristol and Hotel Riviera in Beirut, Gondol Restaurant in Chtoura, Café Lutain and Hotel Achkar in Broumana, and Restaurant Albert in Zahle. One of their most memorable gigs was at Farid al-Atrash’s club in Raouche, where William had the honor of meeting the legendary musician himself. The band often shared the stage with prominent Arab musicians, including Omar Khorshid. Oftentimes notable Lebanese figures would be in attendance, such as President Bachir Gemayel, Najib Hankash, Elie Choueiri, and Abou Melhem. Beyond nightclubs and restaurants, the band also played at some of the earliest Miss Lebanon pageants in 1967 and 1968 at the request of William’s close friend Raymond Loir. 

Top: William with “Migliore Suono” at Cafe Lutain, Brumana  |  Bottom: Promotional band photo, Raouche

As conflict ensued in Lebanon in the 1970s, one particular incident made it clear to William that his future in Lebanon was uncertain. While performing at a gig in the iconic Phoenicia Hotel in Beirut, bullets erupted outside the venue, and everyone was forcibly evacuated, with William and the band leaving all their instruments behind. In the months to come, William watched as his brothers and parents began to flee the country one by one, seeking a fresh start in New York City. In the early 80’s, he reluctantly left Lebanon for NYC, leaving behind his beloved country, his blossoming music career, a souvenir shop in Riviera, and his home in Achrafieh. 

Top: Event at Phoenicia Hotel, Beirut. | Bottom: William’s band with Elie Choueiri at Miss Beirut beauty pageant

He was the last of his family members to leave, but his arrival in NYC marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter in his career. His earliest gigs in the city – along with his precious accordion – involved playing salsa and bolero music with a Mexican band at Latin clubs. Things changed when his brother Raymond introduced him to local legend and derbake player Eddie “The Sheikh” Kochak, who was well-known for conducting musicians and dancers at the Atlantic Avenue outdoor festival in Brooklyn. Eddie invited William to join his ensemble, and the first gig was William’s entry into the thriving Arabic music scene thriving among the diaspora in the city. 

Top: William, Miss Bikfaya and Raymond Loir | Bottom: William with the band at Miss Metn beauty pageant, 1967

Teaming up with violinist Hamouda Ali, William formed a three-person band featuring derbake, violin, and accordion with him as the bandleader. The trio became a fixture at various Middle Eastern nightclubs and restaurants where William not only conducted the band, but also took care of stage production and venue organization as he did in Lebanon. During this time, popular musician Samir Tawil briefly joined the group as the lead singer. William’s longest run had to be during his eight years as bandleader at Cedars, a lively Lebanese restaurant where he curated a program of performances that drew in crowds eager to experience live Arabic music and dance. William recalls one particularly memorable night when he got to jam with members of legendary singer Fairuz’s ensemble, including Setrak Sarkissian on tabla, Joseph Karkour on ney, and Michel Mirhej Baklouk on riqq, who all happened to be spending the evening at the restaurant. 

Miss Beirut beauty pageant, at Hotel Bristol, 1967

After his time playing at popular restaurants in Manhattan such as Cedars, Ibis, and Beirut, William began touring across New York and New Jersey with Joseph Kissab, where they performed Arabic music. Occasionally, other musicians like George Bassile – a popular qanun player who had performed with Fairuz –  as well as Joseph Zaroura would join the tours. William also got the opportunity to play accordion as an add-on to the band of iconic Arabic musician Sabah Fakhri.

Perhaps the most monumental performance of William’s career came when Touma Thame invited his band to play at shows in Boston and Yonkers with the legendary Wadih El Safi. This first meeting was the beginning of a lifelong friendship between the two. Beyond Wadih’s status as a beloved figure in the world of Arabic music, William fondly remembers him as a great friend with an energetic personality and a flair for writing poetry. Years later, when William opened his new restaurant Layali in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, it was only fitting that Wadih El Safi performed one night.

The Souls band

All these experiences of touring, hosting events, collaborating, and building rapport with iconic figures in Arabic music sparked William’s interest in event production and promotion. Working with musician and producer Elie Choueiri, William organized a landmark show at Prospect Park Hall, where he brought the legendary Sabah live to an American audience for the very first time. Her band also included a stellar lineup of talent including George Bassile, Simon Chahine, Ghaleb El Tawil, Jamal Shafic, Fadi Libnan, and Tony Shaak. This event was Sabah's debut performance in the United States, which was quite the spectacle for William as his first self-organized event. The iconic singer became very close to the Safi family, and over lunches, dinners, and jam sessions at the Safi family home, William came to know Sabah personally and remembers her as kind-hearted and full of life—all qualities she was known for. Over the years, he organized two more highly acclaimed shows for Sabah at Caesar’s Palace in Atlantic City, and another performance that featured Ihsan Al Mounzer on keys.

With Sabah

After the success of and high demand for these early shows, William produced more events across the NJ/NY metropolitan areas starring more famous Arab figures. These included comedian Elie Ayoub opening at a Walid Toufic show, where Lebanese model Georgina Rizk was in attendance. He organized shows for notable artists such as Ragheb Alama, Ahmed Dougan, Mona Maraachli, and even George Wassouf (at the WTC Vista Hotel). William would also accompany the band and play at some of the shows, such as during the performances of Samira Toufic and Nohad Tarabay. William had a fun tradition of hosting dinners at home for all the celebrities. These gatherings went beyond business, giving William the chance to engage with the stars and get to know them personally.

With George Wassouf

William performing on the accordion with Wadih El Safi

As many musicians do, William eventually married and settled down with his family in Bay Ridge, where he raised my sister and me. As his daughter, writing this story has been an amazing experience involving listening to his fascinating stories, uncovering memories, and looking through his intensive photo and video archives I had never seen before. It’s also been a bit strange referring to him as “William” rather than the usual “Dad” or “Baba.” That’s why I’m incredibly proud to share his story. From playing in Beirut to performing with legends and producing unforgettable events, William had a natural flair for connecting audiences with music. Through his work and own love for music, he brought a piece of home to the Arab diaspora by uniting the community through the universal language of music. His impact on the music scene in the US is one to remember. To this day, my dad loves to reminisce about his musical career and share his stories. His love for music is still very much alive as you can always find him sitting at the nearest piano or playing his beloved accordion.