Summer Time in Lebanon: Leila Mazloom
Lillian “Leila” A. Mazloom
(Musician, singer)
Lillian Mazloom, 1945, G.A.R. Memorial High School, Garchive Yearbook. Ancestry.com
If you collect or have any 78 RPM Arabic records in the
United States, you’ve no doubt come across or seen records on the Maloof,
Macksoud, or Alamphon labels. Much more rare, but not as valued by collectors,
are records on the Mazloom label (there were likely only two discs ever
released). We’ve done some digging after acquiring two Mazloom discs and here’s
what we’ve uncovered…
Lillian “Leila” A. Mazloom was one of seven born 7 May 1927
to George and Rose Unis Mazloom in Wilkes-Barr, Pennsylvania. George and Rose
immigrated separately from Greater Syria, now Lebanon. Rose came to the United
States as an infant in 1892/93 and George arrived in 1902/03 almost ten years
later, the couple married in 1909 and had four children before Lillian was
born. Lillian and her sister Rosanna took interest in music while they were
young children and the girls' parents quickly provided opportunities for the two girls
to showcase their talents. In fact, as early as October 1938, Lillian and
Rosanna performed at the Lebanese Syrian American Society Halloween Party where
they sang in Arabic, their younger twin brothers, who were only five, performed
a “Syrian dance number” at the same event.
Since the 1920s, the Mazlooms operated a Candy and
Confectionery store. Both Lillian and Rosanna worked here baking fruit and nut
bars and preparing coconut sweets. The Mazloom family kept their children busily
involved with 4-H Clubs, where Lillian and Rosanna regularly participated in
home economic demonstrations from how to make enough sandwiches for guests at
large parties to how to make a bed properly. George and Rose fell on tough
times during the Depression but managed to keep the candy store afloat. With the
outbreak of World War II, however, conditions forced the family to close the
store. Lillian and Rosanna worked the family farm and continued their studies
at G.A.R. Memorial High School. When Lillian graduated in 1945, the school
yearbook noted, “Dark Hair, brown eyes, and a pleasing personality answer the
description of none other than “Lil.” She possesses a liking for singing. Her
future will be along the commercial line.”
Over the next three years, Lillian and Rosanna regularly
performed, now as soloists, for Lebanese American clubs and associations in
Roanoke and Richmond, Virginia, Newark and Trenton, New Jersey, and
Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Her star began to take off even more and by this
time she sang as a soloist at an event honoring Lebanese politician Joseph Bey
Karam attended by 600 people, at the Knights of Lebanon annual outing in July
1950, and the second annual “Mahrajan” at the Dream City Park.
Mahrajan Ad feature Elia Baida and Lillian Mazloom, 18 July 1954, The Caravan. Newspapers.com
By 1954, Lebanese American communities continually requested
her presence at the haflas and mahrajans. In a surprise move, instead of going
to Alamphon, Karawan, or one of the other Arab American record labels, the
Mazlooms recorded on their own record label (likely a limited run personal pressing) – Mazloom Records. Recording as Leila Mazloom, Lillian cut two
songs-four sides # CI-244-245 “Ah-Rif-Tek-Shif-Tek Yah-Ha-Raami” and #CB 246-247
“Cy-Fee-It-Libnan.” Semi Shaheen, a rising star in his own right, accompanied
Mazloom. On the roster for the 18 July 1954, Fifth Annual Mahrajan were Elia Baida, Joseph Francis, and Lillian Mazloom.
|
https://soundcloud.com/user-356929609-75127210/leila-mazloom-a-rif-tek-shif-tek-yah-ha-raami
Mazloom Records. # CI-244-245 “Ah-Rif-Tek-Shif-Tek Yah-Ha-Raami” and #CB 246-247 “Cy-Fee-It-Libnan.”Richard M. Breaux Collection.
Mazloom Records. # CI-244-245 “Ah-Rif-Tek-Shif-Tek Yah-Ha-Raami” and #CB 246-247 “Cy-Fee-It-Libnan.”Richard M. Breaux Collection.
Initially, getting married to Monsour Kouri did not slow
Lillian down and she still sang concerts at the local mahrajan up and down the
eastern coast. As she and Monsour settled down, the couple had three daughters
(Leila, Rose, and Nora); Lillian had less and less time to perform.
Lillian Mazloom Kouri (after she married) as "Leila Mazloom."
Wilkes Barre Times Leader, 6 July 1961. Newspapers.com
Today, Lillian Mazloom Kouri lives in Richmond, Virginia; she
just turned 92 years old. Few know of her, anything about her past career, or the
78 RPM records she cut on the family-named label. Monsour passed on in 1998,
one hundred years after his family settled in Virginia as some of its first
Syrian Lebanese residents. Perhaps it’s most fitting that we honor Lily (the
name she prefers) as we enter Summer Time in Lebanon and the United States.*
*Lillian Mazloom Kouri passed 29 March 2020.
© Midwest Mahjar
Comments
Post a Comment