Cheb Mami facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cheb Mami
Cheb Mami in 1986
Background information
Native name	شاب مامي
Birth name	Mohamed Khelifati (محمد خليفاتي)
Born	(1966-07-11) 11 July 1966 (age 58) Saïda, Algeria
Genres	Raï
Occupation(s)	Musician singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1982–present
Labels	Virgin A&M Because Music Rotana

Mohamed Khelifati (born July 11, 1966), known as Cheb Mami, is a famous musician and singer from Algeria. He sings in Algerian Arabic, and sometimes in other Arabic dialects or in French. Many people around the world know him for his singing on the song "Desert Rose" with the artist Sting in 1999.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Cheb Mami was born in a busy area called Graba-el-wed, in the city of Saïda, Algeria. Saïda is about 170 kilometers south of Oran, located on high plains in northwestern Algeria.

Becoming a Raï Star

Cheb Mami first became well-known in 1982 when he was just 16 years old. He came in second place on a TV talent show in Algeria called Alhane wa chabab, which means "melodies and youth." After that, he started his career as a raï singer. Raï is a popular type of folk music from Algeria.

He performed at weddings and released music tapes. Music producers noticed his talent. In 1985, he moved to Paris, France. He also spent two years serving in the military in Algeria, where he entertained soldiers on army bases.

Touring the World

In May 1989, Cheb Mami returned to Paris. From there, he traveled and performed in many countries. He toured places like the United States, Germany, England, and Spain.

His music mixes sounds from different cultures. You can hear influences from Mediterranean and Western music. This includes styles like Flamenco, Greek, Turkish, and Latin music. His singing also has a special sound with Andalusian touches.

International Fame

Cheb Mami became famous worldwide when he worked with the singer Sting. In 1999, Sting released his album Brand New Day. Their song together, "Desert Rose", became a hit on music charts everywhere.

This led to Cheb Mami appearing on many popular TV shows. He was on Saturday Night Live, the Today Show, Jay Leno, and David Letterman. He even performed live at the Grammy Awards and the Super Bowl.

Music and Legal Challenges

Cheb Mami faced some legal issues later in his career. He was arrested in France in 2009. He was later released in 2011.

Plagiarism Case

In July 2015, Cheb Mami had to pay money to another artist, Cheb Rabah. This was because some of his songs were found to have parts that were too similar to Cheb Rabah's work. The songs involved were "Le raï c'est chic," "Madanite," "Ma vie deux fois," and "Gualbi Gualbi."

Selected Music Albums

See also

In Spanish: Cheb Mami para niños