Enrico Macias


Gaston Ghrenassia , known by his stage name Enrico Macias, is a French singer, songwriter and musician.
YT enricomaciasvevo

Early years

Gaston Ghrenassia was born to a Sephardic Jewish family in Constantine, French Algeria. His father, Sylvain Ghrenassia, 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 Europeans in 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.

Career

After living for a time 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 opening for Paola and Billy Bridge. His daughter, Jocya, was born that year.
In the spring of 1964, he opened for Les Compagnons de la chanson at the Paris Olympia and then undertook a tour of Eastern Mediterranean countries, performing in Israel, Greece, and Turkey. 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 of Moscow, in a tour that took him to more than forty Soviet cities. He also toured Japan and recorded titles in Spanish and Italian.
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.
In 1971, he performed at the Paris Olympia, then at 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 there.
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 had 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, which he toured in addition to South Korea.
In April 1992, he tried acting in a play adapted from the English repertoire, called Quelle Nuit. He also had a role as a local judge in the French TV film Monsieur Molina.
In July 2019, Macias played himself in the comedy Family Business, broadcast on Netflix.
He also wrote Hatikva's most famous recording, the Israeli anthem, recorded in 1993 for his album "À Suzy".

Albums and singles

Of great popularity were his 1960s Oriental-influenced songs like "Adieu mon pays", "Les filles de mon pays", "L'Oriental", "Entre l'orient et l'occident" and tribute songs like "Le violon de mon père", and "Mon chanteur préferé".
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.

Achievements

  • In 1965 he was awarded the Prix Vincent Scotto.
  • He received a gold disc in 1976 for "Mélisa".
  • He was named Singer of Peace by UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim in 1980 after he donated the proceeds of his single "Malheur à celui qui blesse un enfant" to the UNICEF.
  • In 1997, Kofi Annan named him Roving Ambassador for Peace and the Defence of Children.

Collaborations

He has collaborated with numerous artists and his songs have been interpreted in many languages.
  • He sang "Melisa", "Je t'apprendrai l'amour", "Un grand amour" and "On s'embrasse et on oublie" as a duet with internationally famous Turkish singer Ajda Pekkan and they released a live album called "A L'Olympia" together in 1976.
  • In 1985, he collaborated with numerous artists to sing "Viva Les Bleus", a French national football team song to the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico.
  • In 1991, he had a duet with Ginni Gallan entitled "Un amour, une amie".
  • In 2003, he sang "Koum Tara" with Cheb Mami 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 Pekkan, Başar Tamer, Berkant, Engin Evin, Ferdi Özbeğen, Gökben, Gönül Yazar, Hümeyra, İhsan Kayral, Juanito, Kamuran Akkor, Mavi Çocuklar, Nilüfer, Ömür Göksel, Selçuk Ural, Semiramis Pekkan, Seyyal Taner, 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 marketed as a "veritable love story between one man and his homeland".
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 Laurent Fabius or Dominique Strauss-Kahn if they 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.
In September 2025, Turkish authorities banned Macias from performing at a concert in the Şişli district, Istanbul over his pro-Israeli stance and after "intense calls for protests against the concert." This came after Macias stated in an interview on YouTube in August stating, "My problem is that I can’t stand the violence of the terrorists, and if there was violence on the Israeli side, it was because of Hamas."

Personal life

Enrico Macias is a widower. His wife Suzy Leyris suffered heart disease and died on 23 December 2008. His 1993 album Suzy is dedicated to her. He has a son Jean-Claude, who worked with him as a musician and a daughter named Jocya.

Discography

Albums

'''Charts'''

Studio 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
  • 2005: Chanter
  • 2006: La Vie populaire
  • 2011: Voyage d'une mélodie
  • 2012: Venez tous mes amis!
  • 2016: Les clefs
  • 2019: ''Enrico Macias & Al orchestra''

Live albums / compilations

  • 1968: Olympia 68
  • 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''

Songs

AA ceux qui m'ont béni 1981A la face de l'humanité 1972A Venise 1971Adieu mon pays 1962Aie aie aie je t'aime 1989Aime-moi je t'aime 1986Aimez vous les uns les autres 1977L'âme des gitans 1977Ami, dis lui 1965L'ami fidèle 1964L'amour c'est pour rien 1964L'amour de la famille 1978L'amour n'est jamais fini 1979 Apprendre à vivre ensemble 1995Après moi 1989Asturias 1970Au cœur de la Camargue 1963Au nom des droits de l'homme 1993Au temps du Balajo 1970Aux quatre coins du monde 1968 Aux talons de ses souliers 1968Avec les moyens du bord 1983
BLa ballade des innocents 1987Beyrouth 1963Brésil 1995
CC'est ça l'amour 1973C'est du soleil 1971C'est une femme 1981C'est vrai 1980C'était le bon temps 1973Chanson pour l'auvergnat 1974/1997Chanter 1966Chiquita 1962Come on bye bye 1991Compagnon disparu 1963Constantina 1984Constantine 1962La courte échelle 1981
DDans la nuit mexicaine 1963De musique en musique 1969Dès que je me réveille 1968Deux ailes et trois plumes 1983Deux femmes a Dublin 1976Dieu de l'espérance 1993Dis-moi ce qui ne va pas 1968Dis-moi l'avenir 1973Dix ans déjà 1970
EEl Porompompero 1964Elle reviendra bientôt 1975L'Enfant de mon enfant 1993Enfants de tous pays 1963Entre l'orient et l'occident 1976Est-il un ennemi? 1965
FLa femme de mon ami 1962La fête orientale 1971Les Filles de mon pays 1964La folle espérance 1977La France de mon enfance 1980Le fusil rouillé 1984
GGénérosité 1984Les gens du nord 1967Le grain de blé 1966Le grand pardon 1997
IL'île du Rhône, 1964 ?Il est comme le soleil 1977L'instituteur 1981
JJ'ai douze ans 1989J'ai peur 1967J'appelle le soleil 1966Jalousie maladie 1975Jamais Deux Sans Trois 1966J'en ai plein mon cœur des souvenirs 1966Je crois en Dieu 1971Je le vois sur ton visage 1967Je n'ai pas vu mes enfants grandir 1984Je t'aimerai pour deux 1966Je vous apporte la nouvelle 1975 Jérusalem j'ai froid 1988Juif Espagnol 1980Jusqu'au bout de la course 1981
KKoum Tara 1976 + avec Cheb Mami 1999
LLa lavande 1967Luther King 1984La dernière prière 1996
MMa maison, ma maison 1962Ma patrie 1964Ma raison de vivre 1964Malheur à celui qui blesse un enfant 1975La Marelle 1977Maya 1964Mélisa 1975Le mendiant de l'amour 1980La mère et l'enfant 1989Les millionnaires du dimanche 1967Mon ami mon frère 1963Mon chanteur préféré 1986Mon cœur d'attache 1966
NN'oublie jamais d'où tu viens 1967Ne doute plus de moi 1964Noël à Jérusalem 1967Non je n'ai pas oublié 1966Notre place au soleil 1965
OOh guitare, guitare 1962Oranges amères 2003L'Oriental 1962Où est donc la vérité 1966Oumparere 1975Ouvre-moi la porte 1980Ouvre ta main et donne 1963
PPar ton premier baiser 1962Pardonne et n'oublie pas 1984Paris s'allume 1969Paris tu m'as pris dans tes bras 1964La part du pauvre 1966Les pins du bord de l'eau 1964Le plus grand bonheur du monde 1967Poï Poï 1963Pour ton mariage 1992Puisque l'amour commande 1967
QQuand les femmes dansent 2003Quand les hommes vivront d'amour, à l'Olympia en 1989 avec les Petits Chanteurs d'Asnières
RReste-moi fidèle 1969
SSans voir le jour 1965S'il fallait tout donner 1964Si c'était à refaire 1977Sois fidèle à ton amour 1974 avec IlanitSolenzara 1967Sous le ciel de Paris 2005Souviens-toi des noëls de là bas 1963Souviens-toi, je t'aime aujourd'hui 1975Suzy 1993
TToi la mer immense 1967Tous les hommes se ressemblent 1970Tous les soleils de l'amitié 1981Tout seul 1966Tu n'es pas seul au monde 2011
UUn amour, une amie 1990 avec Ginni GallanUn berger vient de tomber 1981Un rayon de soleil 1967Un refrain 1967Un signe de la main 1975Un soir d'été 1963Une fille à marier 1982
VVa-t'en 1962Vagabonds sans rivage 1963Le Vent du sud 1989Vers qui vers quoi 1988Le Vertige 1974La vie populaire 2005Vieille terre 1965Le violon de mon père 1977Vous les femmes 1965Le Voyage 2003
YLes yeux de l'amour 1967
ZZingarella 1988

Filmography

;Soundtracks
  • 1967: Le parapluie des vedettes – singing "Les millionnaires du dimanche"
  • 1994: Ha-Perah Be-Gani – writing the music for "Marlène"
  • 1994: Mina Tannenbaum – "Les filles de mon pays"
  • 1998: A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries – writing and performing "Mon coeur d'attache"
  • 2010: Axis of Evil – singing "J'ai quitté mon pays"
  • 2011: The Rabbi's Cat – singing "Qu'elle ne se marie pas"
  • 2011: Bachelor Days Are Over – writing and performing "Reste-moi fidèle"
  • 2011: Bienvenue à bord – performing "Le mendiant de l'amour", "Les filles de mon pays", "Enfants de tous pays" and "Tu es le soleil de ma vie"
;Documentaries
  • 1966: Paris aktuell – as himself
  • 2001: Tutti frutti – as himself
  • 2003: Guerre d'Algérie: la mémoire retrouvée? – as himself
  • 2003: Ombre et lumière – as himself
  • 2005: Graffiti 60 – as himself
  • 2005: Mamy Scopitone – L'âge d'or du clip – as himself