In 1960, Barakat dropped out of school at the age of 15 and enrolled into the National Institute of Music without his father's knowledge.

[4] He also collaborated with Najwa Karam, Karol Sakr, Shatha Hassoun, and Majida El Roumi.

His third and final marriage was to Lebanese singer and actress May Hariri, with whom he had a child, Melhem Junior, before the couple divorced.

[9] He died of prostate cancer on 28 October 2016 at Hôtel-Dieu de France hospital in Achrafieh, Lebanon.

[9] Many Lebanese singers and politicians were present at the funeral mass, including Ragheb Alama, Fares Karam, Majida El Roumi, Rola Saad and Barakat's ex-wife May Hariri.