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Photo of Enrico Macias

Enrico Macias

ActorBorn December 11, 1938 (86 years)
Gaston Ghrenassia (born 11 December 1938), known by his stage name Enrico Macias, is a French singer, songwriter and musician.

Gaston Ghrenassia was born to a Sephardic Jewish family. His father, Sylvain Ghrenassia (1914–2004), was a violinist in an orchestra that played primarily malouf, Andalusian classical music. Gaston played the guitar from childhood, and started playing with the Cheikh Raymond Leyris Orchestra at age 15.

He pursued a school teacher career, but continued playing the guitar. In 1961, the Algerian War of Independence was raging, and the situation became untenable for the European colonizers of Constantine. The assassination in 1961 of his father-in-law and musician Cheikh Raymond Leyris by the National Liberation Front (FLN) was of immense effect on Gaston Ghrenassia, and appears to have been due to his opposition to the independence of Algeria from France and pro-Israel stance. 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.

First living in Argenteuil, he eventually moved to Paris, where he decided to pursue a career in music. At first he tried translating into French the malouf 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 stage name Enrico Macias and 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 ship 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 opened for Les Compagnons de la chanson at the Paris Olympia and then undertook a successful tour of the Middle East, performing with great success in Israel, Greece and Turkey, especially in the latter where he still has a huge following. 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 and recorded titles in Spanish and Italian and was popular in both countries.

His American debut, at a sold-out Carnegie Hall concert, took place on 17 February 1968. He continued to tour the United States, singing in Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles. In Quebec, Canada, he was warmly welcomed as a Francophone artist. ...

Source: Article "Enrico Macias" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA.

Known For

  • Would I Lie to You? 2
  • Maison de retraite 2

Filmography

2023
Pour ton mariage · as Self
2022
2019
The Secret Box (TV Series) · as Self
2019
Family Business (2019) (TV Series) · as Self
2018
Passage des Arts (TV Series) · as Self
2018
Basic, most of the music (TV Series) · as Self
2018
Fort Boyard : toujours plus fort ! (TV Series) · as Self - Candidate (archive Footage)
2017
Ofira and Berkovic (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2011
2010
It's Only TV (TV Series) · as Self
2010
Matzav Ha'Uma (TV Series) · as Self
2009
C à Vous (TV Series) · as Self
2007
Empreintes (TV Series) · as Self
2007
One Day, One Fate (TV Series) · as Self
2006
Salut les Terriens (TV Series) · as Self
2006
On n'est pas couché (TV Series) · as Self
2006
2004
Tout le monde en parle (QC) (TV Series) · as Self
2003
20h10 pétantes (TV Series) · as Self
2003
La méthode Cauet (TV Series) · as Self
2001
Star Academy (TV Series) · as Self
2001
As An Aside (TV Series) · as Self
2000
L'invité (TV Series) · as Self
2000
Qui veut gagner des millions ? (TV Series) · as Self
1998
Roll on Sunday (TV Series) · as Self
1998
We Can't Wait for Next Sunday (TV Series) · as Self - Main Guest
1998
Tout le monde en parle (TV Series) · as Self
1998
Paparazzi · as Self
1994
Les enfants de la télé (TV Series) · as Self
1993
Taratata 100% Live (TV Series) · as Self
1991
Double jeu (TV Series) · as Self
1990
Les Nuls, The Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
1990
Fort Boyard (TV Series) · as Self
1987
NPA (TV Series) · as Self
1985
Today (FR) (TV Series) · as Self
1982
Champs-Elysees (TV Series) · as Self
1976
César Awards (TV Series) · as Self - Presenter
1971
La maffia du plaisir · as Self (uncredited)
1964
The Hollywood Palace (TV Series) · as Self

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