Egyptian musician Halim Bikr has passed away at the age of 86, following a long and illustrious career that saw him produce over 1,000 songs for generations of Egyptian and Arab singers. Bikr’s health had been deteriorating over the past three months, leading him to receive medical treatment in a hospital before completing his recovery at home. Bikr, born in December 1937, graduated from the Higher Institute of Arabic Music and earned a bachelor’s degree in commerce, before working as a music teacher in a school and later resigning to focus on music. Among the many famous singers Bikr composed for were Leila Murad, Warda al-Jazairia, Faiza Ahmed, and Nagat el-Saghira.