Artist
Cheb Khaled
6947 Views
Khaled is the poster boy for the modern form of Algerian desert blues known as Raï. Certainly he's been its most successful modern exponent, the first to find success on the international stage. Born Khalidu Hajji Brahim in Oran, the traditional center of Raï, he was attracted to music from an early age, especially to Raï, which was seen at the time of the music of outcasts, drunks, and prostitutes, although he also loved James Brown and the Beatles. He taught himself to play guitar, bass, harmonica, and accordion, releasing his debut disc, "Trigh Lycee," when he was just 14. Leaving home, he began on the peripatetic life of the musician, performing frequently at clubs, parties, and weddings (the only places where Raï was seen as an "acceptable" form of entertainment). It was in the early '80s that Cheb (meaning "young") Khaled's fortunes changed, when he met up with producer Rachid Baba Ahmed, who was revolutionizing the Raï form by introducing Western electric instruments and studio techniques. Together, they changed the face of the music. Khaled was the right voice at the right time and the addition of drum machines, synthesizers, and guitars took the music to a new generation, even though much of it continued to be censored by the Algerian government, which considered the style subversive. A number of those early tracks can be found on Le Meilleur de Cheb Khaled on Blue Silver.
Kutche
By 1986, Khaled (who'd now dropped the Cheb) had been forced to move to Paris, as violence in Algeria claimed lives and he'd been threatened several times (producer Ahmed would, in fact, be murdered, as would several Raï performers). Arriving with a reputation, he attempted to take his music to a global level, although his real debut, Kutche, did him no favors with its jazz-rock arrangements. He fared much better with 1992's Khaled, with some tracks produced by Michael Brook and others by Don Was. It yielded his first big hit, "Didi," and helped consolidate his reputation as Raï's first superstar. That was firmly cemented the following year with the Was-produced N'ssi N'ssi, which mixed funk, rock, and an Egyptian orchestra behind Khaled's persuasive voice and winning smile for a major commercial breakthrough in France, winning a European, as well as North African, audience. In 1996, he hit again with Sahra, whose first single, "Aïcha," written for his daughter, gave Khaled a French number one hit. A mix of producers gave varying sounds, with French hip-hoppers Akhenton & Imhotep proving the hardest on the track "Oran Marseille" with its rapid-fire rap. There was even some reggae on "Mektoubi," which merged relatively seamlessly with the North African sound. While well-received critically, it sold little in the U.S. however, unlike France, where the album became Khaled's biggest success. Perhaps the moment that justified his title of King of Raï, however, came in 1999, when he headlined the 1-2-3 Soleils concert in Paris (which led to the album of the same name), over Rachid Taha and Faudel. It was the biggest Algerian show ever staged in France and left no doubt that Khaled remained Raï's hottest attraction. 2000 brought Kenza and a change of producer, as former prog rocker Steve Hillage helped bring a more organic feel to the proceedings. A smash in Europe, once again it did little business in the U.S.
Points of sale
Head There!
2025
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
July
MELHEM ZEIN
08:30 PM | Joseph Tohme Skaff
NOQTA WARA NOQTA
05:00 PM | Casino du Liban
One Thousand and One Nights - New Dates
08:00 PM | Theatre Caracalla
MANIA THE ABBA TRIBUTE
09:00 PM | Serenata by Nabu
NOQTA WARA NOQTA
05:00 PM | Casino du Liban
One Thousand and One Nights - New Dates
08:00 PM | Theatre Caracalla
BLOOM with GHINWA
07:00 PM | Daraj El Zouk
MOUHAMMAD KHAIRY
10:00 PM | KAY Lounge
MARWA NAGY singing UMM KULTHUM
09:00 PM | Serenata by Nabu
NOQTA WARA NOQTA
05:00 PM | Casino du Liban
MARIE SLEIMAN Featuring Soprano LENA KHATER
09:30 PM | Casino du Liban
ZIAD BOURJI
10:00 PM | KAY Lounge
MAGIDA EL ROUMI
09:00 PM | Beirut Waterfront
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN
09:00 PM | Beirut Waterfront
Diwaniyat Hob - ديوانية حب
08:30 PM | Echoes of the Golden Era | Beiteddine Palace
NOQTA WARA NOQTA
05:00 PM | Casino du Liban
Symphonic Electro-Dance
08:30 PM | Château Rweiss
One Thousand and One Nights - New Dates
08:00 PM | Theatre Caracalla
SHEHERAZADE
07:30 PM | IXSIR winery
MELHEM ZEIN
10:00 PM | KAY Lounge
NOQTA WARA NOQTA
05:00 PM | Casino du Liban
One Thousand and One Nights - New Dates
08:00 PM | Theatre Caracalla
SHEHERAZADE
07:30 PM | IXSIR winery
Tribute to Musician MOHAMMAD ABDULWAHAB
08:30 PM | Ghalboun
NOQTA WARA NOQTA
05:00 PM | Casino du Liban
We group and DJ Marc French 80s night
08:30 PM | Zaarour Club
WAEL JASSAR
10:00 PM | KAY Lounge
Lebanese Classical Night Maestro LUBNAN BAALBAKI
08:30 PM | Ghalboun
ADONIS
09:00 PM | Beirut Waterfront
One Thousand and One Nights - New Dates
08:00 PM | Theatre Caracalla
Love and Revenge
09:00 PM | MusicHall
KHYEL SAHRA
08:30 PM | Casino du Liban
AL SHAMI
09:00 PM | Beirut Waterfront
GUY MANOUKIAN
08:30 PM | Ehden
CARLOS
10:00 PM | KAY Lounge
KHYEL SAHRA
08:30 PM | Casino du Liban
BEER WINE AND SEAFOOD FESTIVAL WITH HANINE
07:30 PM | Batroun
Amioun Heritage Festival - AKHRAS in concert
08:30 PM | Amioun
MOEEN SHREIF
10:00 PM | KAY Lounge
MAYYAS
08:30 PM | Cedars International Festival
KHYEL SAHRA
08:30 PM | Casino du Liban
Cedars Transportation - MAYYAS
Transportation Cedars
Echoes of the Cedars by Michel Fadel and Rony Barrak
08:00 PM | ARZ EHMEJ
BEER WINE AND SEAFOOD FESTIVAL WITH ZEF
07:30 PM | Batroun
KHYEL SAHRA
08:30 PM | Casino du Liban
HERITAGE - Dadju & Tayc
08:30 PM | Forum de Beyrouth
BEER WINE AND SEAFOOD FESTIVAL WITH IYAM EL LIRA
07:30 PM | Batroun
JOSEPH ATTIEH
09:00 PM | Beirut Waterfront
Sparkling Summer with RODGE
07:00 PM | BAR NATIONAL
The Musical كلو مسموح - Anything Goes
08:30 PM | Performed by the incredible Carole Samaha | Beiteddine Palace
JOHN ACHKAR
09:30 PM | Beirut Waterfront
KHYEL SAHRA
08:30 PM | Casino du Liban
ZADE DIRANI
08:30 PM | Forum de Beyrouth
ADAM
09:00 PM | Beirut Waterfront
The Musical كلو مسموح - Anything Goes
08:30 PM | Performed by the incredible Carole Samaha | Beiteddine Palace
KHYEL SAHRA
08:30 PM | Casino du Liban
Opera CARMEN
08:00 PM | Baalbeck
GUY MANOUKIAN
09:00 PM | Beirut Waterfront
ABEER NEHME
08:30 PM | Ehden
Transportation for Baalbeck Festival - Carmen
04:00 PM | Transportation Baalbeck
SAINT LEVANT IN CONCERT
09:00 PM | Batroun
DJ STEPH DIAB
08:30 PM | Bentael Mar Mema
KHYEL SAHRA
08:30 PM | Casino du Liban
WAEL KFOURY
08:30 PM | Cedars International Festival
Cedars Transportation - WAEL KFOURY
Transportation Cedars
Transportation for Baalbeck Festival - Carmen
04:00 PM | Transportation Baalbeck
Opera CARMEN
08:00 PM | Baalbeck
MOEEN SHREIF
08:30 PM | Bentael Mar Mema
KHYEL SAHRA
08:30 PM | Casino du Liban
Ehden - DANCING MOON III
08:30 PM | Ehden
Fundraising Event for LeBAM
08:30 PM | DANCE AROUND THE WORLD | Beiteddine Palace
JUNAID ZEIN EL DINE & ABBAS JAAFAR
08:30 PM | Bentael Mar Mema
ELISSA
09:00 PM | Beirut Waterfront
325 yrs Antonine concert - AN UNFADINGLIGHT
08:30 PM | Mar Elias Church
BLACK COFFEE
08:00 PM | Cedars International Festival
Cedars Transportation - BALCK COFFEE
Transportation Cedars
"Fragile" by Tania Saleh with the participation of Khaled Mouzanar
08:30 PM | Smar Jbeil Citadel
KHYEL SAHRA
08:30 PM | Casino du Liban
One Thousand and One Nights - New Dates
08:00 PM | Theatre Caracalla
|