Biography
Who is Cheb Mami?
Early life and real name
Mohamed Khelifati was born in the Graba-el-Wed quarter of Saida, Algeria. This city is located on the high mesas of northwestern Algeria, about 170 km south of Oran. He grew up in this region before starting his musical path.
He eventually became known to the world by his stage name, Cheb Mami. The term cheb serves as an honorific for musicians within the raï genre.
How Cheb became famous
Cheb Mami became well known in 1982 at the age of 16. He competed in the Algerian television talent competition Alhane wa chabab and finished as the runner-up. Following this success, he began a career as a raï singer by performing at weddings and releasing various cassettes.
In 1985, he moved to Paris, France. During his time there, he performed at raï festivals and met his manager, Michel Levy. In 1987, he returned to Algeria for two years of military service. He worked as an entertainer on army bases during this period to remain near his family.
Career highlights and music style
After returning to Paris in May 1989, he toured several countries including the United States, Germany, England, and Spain. His music incorporates Mediterranean and Western influences such as Greek, Turkish, Latin, and flamenco styles. His vocal performances often feature Andalusian accents.
The singer achieved big international recognition in 1999. He contributed vocals to the song Desert Rose for the Sting album Brand New Day. This duet appeared on global charts and led to performances on programs like Saturday Night Live and the Grammy Awards telecast.
Legal issues and controversies
In October 2006, Cheb Mami faced an international arrest warrant. He was indicted for sequestration, threats, and voluntary violence against a former partner. A court in Paris later found him guilty in July 2009 of drugging and attempting a forcible abortion, resulting in a five-year prison sentence. He was granted conditional release on March 23, 2011.
He also faced legal action regarding songwriting. In July 2015, a court ordered him and EMI to pay a 200,000-euro fine to Rabah Zerradine. The ruling stated that Zerradine was the true author of four songs, including Le raï c'est chic and Ma vie deux fois, as well as a co-author of Desert Rose.
Birthday and age
Cheb Mami was born on July 11, 1966, which makes Cheb 60 years old today. That birthday falls under the Cancer sign. Cheb shares the date with 66 other famous people.
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