Enrico Macias
Encyclopedia
Gaston Ghrenassia, known by his stage name Enrico Macias, (born 11 December 1938 in Constantine
, then in French Algeria
) is an Algerian French
Pied noir singer and musician. He is popular throughout the world and has travelled extensively for fifty years, from the early 1960s to the present.
. Gaston started playing with the Cheikh Raymond Leyris
Orchestra at 15.
He pursued a career as a school teacher, but continued practicing the guitar. In 1961, the Algerian War of Independence
was raging, and the situation became untenable for the Jewish and European residents of Constantine. Of immense effect on Gaston Ghrenassia was the assassination in 1961 of his father-in-law and musician Cheikh Raymond Leyris
by the National Liberation Front (FLN)
. Gaston left Algeria with his wife, Suzy, on 29 July 1961, eleven months before the end of the Algerian War of Independence, and went into exile in mainland France. He has not been permitted to return to Algeria ever since.
, he eventually moved to Paris, where he decided to pursue a career in music. At first he tried translating into French the maalouf numbers which he already knew. Later on, he developed a new French repertoire that he performed in cafés and cabarets. He remained, though, a popular interpreter of Arab-Andalusian music and Judeo-Arab songs in France.
He adopted the name Enrico Macias. Enrico comes from him being called "petit Enrico" when he joined Cheikh Raymond's orchestra. Macias comes through an error of the record label with which he eventually signed. When asked about his family name on the phone he said "Nassia" (Ghrenassia), but the receptionist misheard the name and wrote Macias. Thus the name Enrico Macias.
He made his first recording in 1962 after a meeting with Raymond Bernard of Pathé
. The result was the recording of "Adieu mon pays" which he had composed for his beloved Algeria on the boat on his way to France. He appeared on French television and became an overnight sensation. This led to a first tour in 1963 as a second act with Paola and Billy Bridge. His daughter, Jocya, was also born that year.
In spring 1964, he performed in the first half of the Les Compagnons de la chanson
show at the Paris Olympia and then undertook a successful tour of the Middle East, performing with great success in Lebanon
, Greece and Turkey
, where he still has a huge following today. In Turkey, many of his songs were translated and interpreted by Turkish artists. In 1965, he was awarded the Prix Vincent Scotto, and the following year he sang before 120,000 people at the Dinamo Stadium in Moscow, performing concerts in more than 40 other Soviet cities. He also toured Japan, where he was impressively successful. He recorded titles in Spanish and Italian and was popular in both countries.
His American debut, at a sold-out Carnegie Hall
, took place on 17 February 1968. He continued to tour the United States, singing in Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles. In Canada and Quebec, he was warmly welcomed as a francophone
artist.
In 1971, he returned to the Paris Olympia, then went to the Royal Albert Hall
in London, and back to Japan, Canada, Italy and Spain. A second US tour culminated in a concert at Carnegie Hall in 1972. In 1974, he gave ten shows at the Uris Theater on Broadway, and also at the Olympia for the sixth time since his debut.
He toured France and went twice to Israel in 1976 and 1978. He was invited to Egypt by the Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat to sing for peace. This came after Macias having been banned from Arab countries for many years, despite keeping his popularity with Arab and ethnic audiences in the Middle East and North Africa. In Egypt, he sang in front of 20,000 people at the foot of the Pyramids. After Sadat's assassination, he wrote a song dedicated to the late president entitled "Un berger vient de tomber".
In 1988, he had a big hit with "Zingarella", particularly in Israel
and Turkey upon his tour in both countries in addition to South Korea
.
In April 1992, he tried acting in a play adapted from English, called Quelle nuit. He also had a role as a local judge in the French TV film Monsieur Molina.
He was also popular with the French interpretation of "'Oh guitare, guitare" and the Spanish versions of "El Porompompero" and "Solenzara".
Big French hits include "Paris, tu m'as pris dans tes bras", "La femme de mon ami", "Non je n'ai pas oublié", "La France de mon enfance", "Les gens du nord" and "Les filles de mon pays".
He has sung in many languages including French
, Italian
, Spanish, Hebrew
, Turkish
, Greek
, English
, Armenian
, Arabic
and many of its dialects, and recently in Yiddish
and Tamazight
.
in alphabetical order)
On 14 February 2007, he announced his support of Nicolas Sarkozy
for the French presidential elections. He confirmed his political convictions of the political left, but said he could not support the Socialist candidate Ségolène Royal
, although he would have supported her if Laurent Fabius
or Dominique Strauss-Kahn
had been the candidates.
He attempted again unsuccessfully to visit Algeria in November 2007 accompanying French president Nicolas Sarkozy
, but was faced with fierce resistance from several Algerian organizations and individuals, including Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem
, due to his support of Israel. He has never been permitted to return to Algeria since he left in 1961.
and left with her to France after the assassination of his father-in-law. He was devastated by the death of his wife Suzy Macias on 23 December 2008. His 1993 album Suzy is dedicated to her.
His son, Jean-Claude Ghrenassia, is a well-known music producer as well.
Constantine, Algeria
Constantine is the capital of Constantine Province in north-eastern Algeria. It was the capital of the same-named French département until 1962. Slightly inland, it is about 80 kilometres from the Mediterranean coast, on the banks of Rhumel river...
, then in French Algeria
French Algeria
French Algeria lasted from 1830 to 1962, under a variety of governmental systems. From 1848 until independence, the whole Mediterranean region of Algeria was administered as an integral part of France, much like Corsica and Réunion are to this day. The vast arid interior of Algeria, like the rest...
) is an Algerian French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
Pied noir singer and musician. He is popular throughout the world and has travelled extensively for fifty years, from the early 1960s to the present.
Early years
He was born to a Jewish family in Constantine, Algeria, and played the guitar from childhood. His father, Sylvain Ghrenassia (1914-2004), was a violinist in an orchestra that played primarily maalouf, Andalo-Arabic musicAndalusian classical music
Andalusian classical music is a style of Moorish music found across North Africa in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. It originates out of the music of Al-Andalus between the 9th and 15th centuries....
. Gaston started playing with the Cheikh Raymond Leyris
Cheikh Raymond
Raymond Leyris better known as Cheikh Raymond, was a renowned Algerian Jewish musician...
Orchestra at 15.
He pursued a career as a school teacher, but continued practicing the guitar. In 1961, the Algerian War of Independence
Algerian War of Independence
The Algerian War was a conflict between France and Algerian independence movements from 1954 to 1962, which led to Algeria's gaining its independence from France...
was raging, and the situation became untenable for the Jewish and European residents of Constantine. Of immense effect on Gaston Ghrenassia was the assassination in 1961 of his father-in-law and musician Cheikh Raymond Leyris
Cheikh Raymond
Raymond Leyris better known as Cheikh Raymond, was a renowned Algerian Jewish musician...
by the National Liberation Front (FLN)
National Liberation Front (Algeria)
The National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Algeria. It was set up on November 1, 1954 as a merger of other smaller groups, to obtain independence for Algeria from France.- Anticolonial struggle :...
. Gaston left Algeria with his wife, Suzy, on 29 July 1961, eleven months before the end of the Algerian War of Independence, and went into exile in mainland France. He has not been permitted to return to Algeria ever since.
Career
First living in ArgenteuilArgenteuil
Argenteuil is a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris. Argenteuil is a sub-prefecture of the Val-d'Oise department, the seat of the arrondissement of Argenteuil....
, he eventually moved to Paris, where he decided to pursue a career in music. At first he tried translating into French the maalouf numbers which he already knew. Later on, he developed a new French repertoire that he performed in cafés and cabarets. He remained, though, a popular interpreter of Arab-Andalusian music and Judeo-Arab songs in France.
He adopted the name Enrico Macias. Enrico comes from him being called "petit Enrico" when he joined Cheikh Raymond's orchestra. Macias comes through an error of the record label with which he eventually signed. When asked about his family name on the phone he said "Nassia" (Ghrenassia), but the receptionist misheard the name and wrote Macias. Thus the name Enrico Macias.
He made his first recording in 1962 after a meeting with Raymond Bernard of Pathé
Pathé
Pathé or Pathé Frères is the name of various French businesses founded and originally run by the Pathé Brothers of France.-History:...
. The result was the recording of "Adieu mon pays" which he had composed for his beloved Algeria on the boat on his way to France. He appeared on French television and became an overnight sensation. This led to a first tour in 1963 as a second act with Paola and Billy Bridge. His daughter, Jocya, was also born that year.
In spring 1964, he performed in the first half of the Les Compagnons de la chanson
Les Compagnons de la chanson
Les Compagnons de la chanson were a French vocal group from Lyon, France, founded during World War II. Before 1946, they were part of a larger choir called the 'Compagnons de la musique'. The group met Edith Piaf in 1952 at an event in Paris, and recorded a French language song, "Les trois...
show at the Paris Olympia and then undertook a successful tour of the Middle East, performing with great success in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, Greece and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, where he still has a huge following today. In Turkey, many of his songs were translated and interpreted by Turkish artists. In 1965, he was awarded the Prix Vincent Scotto, and the following year he sang before 120,000 people at the Dinamo Stadium in Moscow, performing concerts in more than 40 other Soviet cities. He also toured Japan, where he was impressively successful. He recorded titles in Spanish and Italian and was popular in both countries.
His American debut, at a sold-out Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
, took place on 17 February 1968. He continued to tour the United States, singing in Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles. In Canada and Quebec, he was warmly welcomed as a francophone
Francophone
The adjective francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person....
artist.
In 1971, he returned to the Paris Olympia, then went to the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
in London, and back to Japan, Canada, Italy and Spain. A second US tour culminated in a concert at Carnegie Hall in 1972. In 1974, he gave ten shows at the Uris Theater on Broadway, and also at the Olympia for the sixth time since his debut.
He toured France and went twice to Israel in 1976 and 1978. He was invited to Egypt by the Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat to sing for peace. This came after Macias having been banned from Arab countries for many years, despite keeping his popularity with Arab and ethnic audiences in the Middle East and North Africa. In Egypt, he sang in front of 20,000 people at the foot of the Pyramids. After Sadat's assassination, he wrote a song dedicated to the late president entitled "Un berger vient de tomber".
In 1988, he had a big hit with "Zingarella", particularly in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and Turkey upon his tour in both countries in addition to South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
.
In April 1992, he tried acting in a play adapted from English, called Quelle nuit. He also had a role as a local judge in the French TV film Monsieur Molina.
Albums and singles
Of great popularity were his 1960s Oriental-influenced songs like "J’ai quitté mon pays", "Les filles de mon pays", "L'Orientale", "Entre l'orient et l'occident" and tribute songs like "Le violon de mon père" (to his father), and "Mon chanteur préferé" (a tribute to his father-in-law Cheikh Raymond).He was also popular with the French interpretation of "'Oh guitare, guitare" and the Spanish versions of "El Porompompero" and "Solenzara".
Big French hits include "Paris, tu m'as pris dans tes bras", "La femme de mon ami", "Non je n'ai pas oublié", "La France de mon enfance", "Les gens du nord" and "Les filles de mon pays".
He has sung in many languages including French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
, Spanish, Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
, Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
, Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, Armenian
Armenian language
The Armenian language is an Indo-European language spoken by the Armenian people. It is the official language of the Republic of Armenia as well as in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The language is also widely spoken by Armenian communities in the Armenian diaspora...
, Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
and many of its dialects, and recently in Yiddish
Yiddish language
Yiddish is a High German language of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, spoken throughout the world. It developed as a fusion of German dialects with Hebrew, Aramaic, Slavic languages and traces of Romance languages...
and Tamazight
Berber languages
The Berber languages are a family of languages indigenous to North Africa, spoken from Siwa Oasis in Egypt to Morocco , and south to the countries of the Sahara Desert...
.
Albums
- 1983: Deux ailes et trois plumes
- 1984: Générosité
- 1987: Enrico
- 1989: Le vent du sud
- 1991: Enrico
- 1992: Mon chanteur préferé
- 1993: Suzy
- 1994: La France de mon enfance
- 1995: Et Johnny Chante L'amour
- 1999: Aie Aie Aie Je T'Aime
- 1999: Hommage à Cheikh Raymond
- 2003: Oranges amères (produced by his son, Jean-Claude Ghrenassia)
- 2005: Chanter
- 2006: La Vie populaire
- 2011: Voyage d'une mélodieVoyage d'une mélodieVoyage d'une mélodie is a 2011 multilingual album by the French singer of Jewish Algerian origin Enrico Macias, after five years of absence due to the death of his wife. The critically acclaimed album comprises music explorations by Macias into many cultures where he interprets songs in French,...
Live albums / compilations
- 1989: Olympia 89
- 1990: Disque d'Or
- 1992: Le plus grand bonheur du monde
- 1996: La Fête à l'Olympia
- 2003: Les Indispensables de Enrico Macias
- 2003: Concerts Musicorama
- 2006: Olympia 2003
- 2006: Les Concerts Exclusifs Europe
- 2008: Platinum Collection
Singles
(Macias singlesSingle (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in alphabetical order)
|
(Enrico Macias et Jacques Demarny) (1975) (at Olympia in 1989 with Les Petits Chanteurs d'Asnières Cheb Mami Ahmed Khelifati Mohamed better known by his stage name Cheb Mami , is an Algerian-born raï singer... |
Achievements
- In 1965 he was awarded the Prix Vincent Scotto.
- He received a gold disc in 1976 for "Mélissa".
- He was named Singer of Peace by UN Secretary-General Kurt WaldheimKurt WaldheimKurt Josef Waldheim was an Austrian diplomat and politician. Waldheim was the fourth Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1972 to 1981, and the ninth President of Austria, from 1986 to 1992...
in 1980 after he donated the proceeds of his single "Malheur à celui qui blesse un enfant" to the Unicef - In 1997, Kofi AnnanKofi AnnanKofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
named him Roving Ambassador for Peace and the Defence of Children.
Collaborations
He has collaborated with tens of artists, and his songs have been interpreted in many languages.- He sang "Melissa" as a duet with Turkish singer Ajda PekkanAjda PekkanAyşe Ajda Pekkan is a Turkish pop singer and actress. Through a career spanning five decades thus far, Pekkan has released more than 20 albums and, with Sezen Aksu, is the most commercially successful female Turkish music artist with the sales of over 30 million copies worldwide. She is nicknamed...
- In 1991, he had a duet with Ginni Gallan entitled "Un amour, une amie".
- In 2003, he sang "Koum Tara" with Cheb MamiCheb MamiAhmed Khelifati Mohamed better known by his stage name Cheb Mami , is an Algerian-born raï singer...
featured in the latter's album Du Sud au Nord and again a live version, this time on Cheb Mami's 2004 album Live au Grand Rex"' - In Turkey, many artists have interpreted his songs with Turkish lyrics including Ajda PekkanAjda PekkanAyşe Ajda Pekkan is a Turkish pop singer and actress. Through a career spanning five decades thus far, Pekkan has released more than 20 albums and, with Sezen Aksu, is the most commercially successful female Turkish music artist with the sales of over 30 million copies worldwide. She is nicknamed...
, Başar Tamer, Berkant, Engin Evin, Ferdi Özbeğen, Gökben, Gönül YazarGönül YazarGönül Yazar , born in the port city of Izmir on Augsust 12, 1936, is a popular Turkish singer and actress. She is one of the most famous Turkish entertainers of all time with a peak in 1960s and 1970s. Her sister Belkıs Özener is also a singer.At the age of 14, she won a singing competition called...
, HümeyraHümeyraHümeyra Akbay is a Turkish actress, singer, composer, and lyricist.Enjoying fame as early as in the 1970s as a singer and actress, her popularity with the new generation rose in the 2000s with the sitcom Avrupa Yakası and the feature drama My Father and My Son directed by Çağan Irmak.-Musical...
, İhsan Kayral, JuanitoJuanito (singer)Juanito , is a French singer of Algerian descent, popular in Turkey during the 1960s.He went to Turkey with his orchestra "Los Alcorson" in 1965. His orchestra left three months later, but Juanito chose to stay in Turkey. During those years, translations of French songs called "arrangements" were...
, Kamuran Akkor, Mavi Çocuklar, NilüferNilüfer YumluNilüfer Yumlu is a Turkish pop singer known as Nilüfer.In 1992, one of her biggest hits, Show Yapma, included in Yine Yeni Yeniden album...
, Ömür Göksel, Selçuk Ural, Semiramis Pekkan, Seyyal TanerSeyyal TanerSeyyal Taner is a Turkish singer and actress.Although famed for her music, Taner started her career as an actress with appearances in around 40 films....
, Sezer Güvenirgil, Sibel Egemen, Tanju Okan, Yeliz
Controversies
His decision to try to play concerts in Algeria resulted in huge controversy. After the cancellation of a proposed tour in Algeria in 2000, he wrote a book Mon Algérie (Editions Plon in October 2001) marketed as a "veritable love story between one man and his homeland".On 14 February 2007, he announced his support of Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
for the French presidential elections. He confirmed his political convictions of the political left, but said he could not support the Socialist candidate Ségolène Royal
Ségolène Royal
Marie-Ségolène Royal , known as Ségolène Royal, is a French politician. She is the president of the Poitou-Charentes Regional Council, a former member of the National Assembly, a former government minister, and a prominent member of the French Socialist Party...
, although he would have supported her if Laurent Fabius
Laurent Fabius
Laurent Fabius is a French Socialist politician. He served as Prime Minister from 17 July 1984 to 20 March 1986. He was 37 years old when he was appointed and is, so far, the youngest Prime Minister of the Fifth Republic.-Early life:...
or Dominique Strauss-Kahn
Dominique Strauss-Kahn
Dominique Gaston André Strauss-Kahn , often referred to in the media, and by himself, as DSK, is a French economist, lawyer, politician, and member of the French Socialist Party...
had been the candidates.
He attempted again unsuccessfully to visit Algeria in November 2007 accompanying French president Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
, but was faced with fierce resistance from several Algerian organizations and individuals, including Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem
Abdelaziz Belkhadem
Abdelaziz Belkhadem is an Algerian politician who is the Minister of State, Personal Representative of the Head of State. He previously served as Prime Minister of Algeria from 2006 to 2008. He is the Secretary-General of the National Liberation Front .Belkhadem was born in Aflou, Laghouat...
, due to his support of Israel. He has never been permitted to return to Algeria since he left in 1961.
Personal life
Enrico Macias was married in 1961, while he was still in Algeria, to Suzy Leyris, the daughter of famous musician Cheikh Raymond LeyrisCheikh Raymond
Raymond Leyris better known as Cheikh Raymond, was a renowned Algerian Jewish musician...
and left with her to France after the assassination of his father-in-law. He was devastated by the death of his wife Suzy Macias on 23 December 2008. His 1993 album Suzy is dedicated to her.
His son, Jean-Claude Ghrenassia, is a well-known music producer as well.