Enrico Macias

Enrico Macias ( Gaston Ghrenassia known as) is an artist French, born with Constantine in Algérie the December 11th 1938.

Biography

Born in an Jewish family, with Constantine, it côtoyé a family of musical tradition of the Malouf, his father was violonist in the orchestra of Raymond Leyris known as Sheik Raymond , but it learns also the Guitare with friends Gipsies, which will be worth to him the pseudonym of the small Enrico , which will be transformed thereafter into its first name of artist. It chose its name of artist per defect, following an error of the secretary of the recording company which badly included/understood its name by telephone and " baptizes it; Macias" , whereas Enrico had blown " to him; Nassia".

Initially teacher in 1956, it will join the orchestra of Sheik Raymond . The death of the latter, symbol of the exchange between the communities of Algeria, assassinated by FLN in 1961, decides Gaston Ghrenassia and its family to leave the Algérie, which they do the July 29th 1961, a little before the end of the Guerre of Algeria, whereas it was going to celebrate his union with Suzy, the girl of Raymond Leyris.

Installed with Paris, he works irregularly until he does the first part of a concert of Gilbert Bécaud and passes to the Télévision in the emission Five columns to. He then adopts the Pseudonyme of Enrico Macias . Very appreciated of the pied-noir public , its audience will widen quickly.

Recognized internationally and singer of peace, it receives the title of singer of peace in 1980 of Kurt Waldheim.

In 1985, it receives the Légion of honor of Laurent Fabius. It is promoted with the rank of officer in April 2007.

In 1998, he becomes member of the board of trustees of the group Partouche. He is also delegated general director of the European company of great restaurants, which manages the Laurent, and belongs to the group Partouche.

February 14th, 2007, he announces his support for the candidature of Nicolas Sarkozy in the emission of Laurent Ruquier, while affirming to remain of left. He declared on this occasion that he could have supported Laurent Fabius or Dominique Strauss-Kahn if they had been candidates, and highly criticized the attitude of Ségolène Royal with respect to Israel and of the Hezbollah.

Engagement in favor of the Israeli army (Tsahal)

It received a decoration of the ministry for Israeli Defense for the many concerts which it granted to the soldiers of Tsahal.

Musical course

If it grew in the arabo-Andalusian music or the Musique judéo-Arabic according to his remarks, it launches out quickly on its arrival in France in songs of varieties orientalists ( I left my country , the girls of my country ).

Its style on its discs evolves to a music less marked and more easily accessible to the general public; there remains nevertheless attached to its musical roots in the songs which he interprets in concert - where in 1979 when he invites the Gipsy Kings to ensure his first part the Olympia after he had made in the same way with the singer Daniele Danaé.

Songs

to see List of songs of Enrico Macias

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