Enrico Macias facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Enrico Macias
Enrico Macias in 2016
Background information
Birth name	Gaston Ghrenassia
Born	(1938-12-11) 11 December 1938 (age 86) Constantine, Algeria
Genres	Chanson, World
Occupation(s)	Composer, singer, songwriter
Instruments	Guitar
Years active	1962–
Labels	EMI

Gaston Ghrenassia (born December 11, 1938, in Algeria), known as Enrico Macias, is a famous French singer, songwriter, and musician. He has a Jewish background from Algeria.

Early Life

Gaston Ghrenassia was born into a Sephardic Jewish family in Constantine, Algeria. His father, Sylvain Ghrenassia, was a violinist. He played in an orchestra that focused on malouf, a type of Andalusian classical music. Gaston started playing the guitar when he was a child. By age 15, he was playing with the Cheikh Raymond Leyris Orchestra.

He first planned to be a school teacher but kept playing his guitar. In 1961, the Algerian War of Independence was happening. Life became very difficult for Jewish and European people in Constantine. His father-in-law, Cheikh Raymond Leyris, who was also a musician, was sadly killed in 1961. This event deeply affected Gaston. He and his wife, Suzy, left Algeria on July 29, 1961. They moved to France and he has not been able to return to Algeria since then.

Music Career

Enrico Macias in 1965.

After moving to Paris, Enrico decided to become a full-time musician. He first tried to sing the malouf songs he knew in French. Later, he created new French songs. He performed these songs in small cafes and cabarets. He was also very good at singing Arab-Andalusian music and Judeo-Arab songs.

He chose the stage name Enrico Macias. His first song, "Adieu mon pays" (Goodbye My Country), was recorded in 1962. He wrote this song about his love for Algeria while traveling to France. He appeared on French television and quickly became very popular. In 1963, he went on his first tour. His daughter, Jocya, was also born that year.

In 1964, he performed at the famous Paris Olympia music hall. Then, he had a successful tour in the Middle East. He performed in Israel, Greece, and Turkey. He is still very popular in Turkey, and many of his songs have been translated there. In 1965, he won the Prix Vincent Scotto award. The next year, he sang for 120,000 people in Moscow and toured over 40 other Soviet cities. He also toured Japan and recorded songs in Spanish and Italian, becoming popular in those countries too.

Enrico Macias performed for the first time in America at a sold-out Carnegie Hall concert on February 17, 1968. He continued to tour the United States, singing in Chicago, Dallas, and Los Angeles. In Quebec, Canada, he was very well-liked because he sang in French.

In 1971, he returned to the Paris Olympia. He also performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London, and went back to Japan, Canada, Italy, and Spain. His second US tour ended with another concert at Carnegie Hall in 1972. In 1974, he performed ten shows on Broadway in New York. He also returned to the Olympia for his sixth time.

He toured France and visited Israel twice in 1976 and 1978. The Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat invited him to Egypt to sing for peace. This was special because Macias had been banned from many Arab countries for years. In Egypt, he sang for 20,000 people near the Pyramids. After Sadat was killed, Enrico wrote a song for him called "Un berger vient de tomber" (A Shepherd Has Fallen).

In 1988, his song "Zingarella" became a big hit. It was especially popular in Israel, Turkey, and South Korea.

In 1992, he tried acting in a play. He also played a judge in a French TV movie called Monsieur Molina. In 2019, Macias played himself in the comedy show Family Business on Netflix.

Popular Songs

Many of his songs from the 1960s were influenced by Oriental music. These include "Adieu mon pays" (Goodbye My Country), "Les filles de mon pays" (The Girls of My Country), "L'Oriental" (The Oriental), and "Entre l'orient et l'occident" (Between the East and the West). He also sang tribute songs like "Le violon de mon père" (My Father's Violin) for his father, and "Mon chanteur préferé" (My Favorite Singer) for his father-in-law, Cheikh Raymond.

He was also known for his French version of "'Oh guitare, guitare" and the Spanish songs "El Porompompero" and "Solenzara".

Some of his big French hits are "Paris, tu m'as pris dans tes bras" (Paris, You Took Me in Your Arms), "La femme de mon ami" (My Friend's Wife), "Non je n'ai pas oublié" (No, I Have Not Forgotten), "La France de mon enfance" (The France of My Childhood), "Les gens du nord" (The People of the North), and "Les filles de mon pays" (The Girls of My Country).

Enrico Macias has sung in many different languages. These include French, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew, Turkish, Greek, English, Armenian, Arabic (and its different dialects), and even Yiddish.

Achievements and Awards

• In 1965, he won the Prix Vincent Scotto award.
• He received a gold record in 1976 for his song "Mélisa".
• In 1980, the UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim named him "Singer of Peace." This was after Enrico gave the money from his song "Malheur à celui qui blesse un enfant" (Woe to Him Who Harms a Child) to UNICEF.
• In 1997, Kofi Annan named him a "Roving Ambassador for Peace and the Defence of Children." This means he traveled to promote peace and protect children.

Working with Other Artists

Enrico Macias has worked with many other artists. His songs have been sung in many languages by different musicians.

• He sang duets with the famous Turkish singer Ajda Pekkan. Their songs included "Melisa" and "On s'embrasse et on oublie." They even released a live album together in 1976.
• In 1985, he joined many artists to sing "Viva Les Bleus." This was a song for the French national football team for the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
• In 1991, he sang a duet called "Un amour, une amie" with Ginni Gallan.
• In 2003, he sang "Koum Tara" with Cheb Mami. They performed it again live in 2004.
• In Turkey, many artists have sung his songs with Turkish words. Some of these include Ajda Pekkan, Nilüfer, and Tanju Okan.

Personal Life

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

Albums and Songs

Albums

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

(Macias songs in alphabetical order)

A

• A ceux qui m'ont béni 1981
• A la face de l'humanité 1972
• A Venise 1971
• Adieu mon pays 1962
• Aie aie aie je t'aime 1989
• Aime-moi je t'aime 1986
• Aimez vous les uns les autres 1977
• L'âme des gitans 1977
• Ami, dis lui 1965
• L'ami fidèle 1964
• L'amour c'est pour rien 1964
• L'amour de la famille 1978
• L'amour n'est jamais fini 1979
• Apprendre à vivre ensemble 1995
• Après moi 1989
• Asturias 1970
• Au cœur de la Camargue 1963
• Au nom des droits de l'homme 1993
• Au temps du Balajo 1970
• Aux quatre coins du monde 1968
• Aux talons de ses souliers 1968
• Avec les moyens du bord 1983

B

• La ballade des innocents 1987
• Beyrouth 1963
• Brésil 1995

C

• C'est ça l'amour 1973
• C'est du soleil 1971
• C'est une femme 1981
• C'est vrai 1980
• C'était le bon temps 1973
• Chanson pour l'auvergnat 1974/1997
• Chanter 1966
• Chiquita 1962
• Come on bye bye 1991
• Compagnon disparu 1963
• Constantina 1984
• Constantine 1962
• La courte échelle 1981

D

• Dans la nuit mexicaine 1963
• De musique en musique 1969
• Dès que je me réveille 1968
• Deux ailes et trois plumes 1983
• Deux femmes a Dublin 1976
• Dieu de l'espérance 1993
• Dis-moi ce qui ne va pas 1968
• Dis-moi l'avenir 1973
• Dix ans déjà 1970

E

• El Porompompero 1964
• Elle reviendra bientôt 1975
• L'Enfant de mon enfant (Mon petit Symon) 1993
• Enfants de tous pays 1963
• Entre l'orient et l'occident 1976
• Est-il un ennemi? 1965

F

• La femme de mon ami 1962
• La fête orientale 1971
• Les Filles de mon pays 1964
• La folle espérance 1977
• La France de mon enfance 1980
• Le fusil rouillé 1984

G

• Générosité 1984
• Les gens du nord 1967
• Le grain de blé 1966
• Le grand pardon 1997

I

• L'île du Rhône, 1964 ?
• Il est comme le soleil 1977
• L'instituteur 1981

J

• J'ai douze ans 1989
• J'ai peur 1967
• J'appelle le soleil 1966
• Jalousie maladie 1975
• Jamais Deux Sans Trois 1966
• J'en ai plein mon cœur des souvenirs 1966
• Je crois en Dieu 1971
• Je le vois sur ton visage 1967
• Je n'ai pas vu mes enfants grandir 1984
• Je t'aimerai pour deux 1966
• Je vous apporte la nouvelle 1975
• Jérusalem j'ai froid 1988
• Juif Espagnol 1980
• Jusqu'au bout de la course 1981

K

• Koum Tara 1976 + avec Cheb Mami (reprise) 1999

L

• La lavande 1967
• Luther King 1984
• La dernière prière 1996

M

• Ma maison, ma maison 1962
• Ma patrie 1964
• Ma raison de vivre 1964
• Malheur à celui qui blesse un enfant (Enrico Macias et Jacques Demarny) 1975
• La Marelle 1977
• Maya 1964
• Mélisa 1975
• Le mendiant de l'amour 1980
• La mère et l'enfant 1989
• Les millionnaires du dimanche 1967
• Mon ami mon frère 1963
• Mon chanteur préféré 1986
• Mon cœur d'attache 1966

N

• N'oublie jamais d'où tu viens 1967
• Ne doute plus de moi 1964
• Noël à Jérusalem 1967
• Non je n'ai pas oublié 1966
• Notre place au soleil 1965

O

• Oh guitare, guitare 1962
• Oranges amères 2003
• L'Oriental 1962
• Où est donc la vérité 1966
• Oumparere 1975
• Ouvre-moi la porte 1980
• Ouvre ta main et donne 1963

P

• Par ton premier baiser 1962
• Pardonne et n'oublie pas 1984
• Paris s'allume 1969
• Paris tu m'as pris dans tes bras 1964
• La part du pauvre 1966
• Les pins du bord de l'eau 1964
• Le plus grand bonheur du monde 1967
• Poï Poï 1963
• Pour ton mariage (chantée avec sa fille) 1992
• Puisque l'amour commande 1967

Q

• Quand les femmes dansent 2003
• Quand les hommes vivront d'amour, à l'Olympia en 1989 avec les Petits Chanteurs d'Asnières

R

• Reste-moi fidèle 1969

S

• Sans voir le jour 1965
• S'il fallait tout donner 1964
• Si c'était à refaire 1977
• Sois fidèle à ton amour 1974 avec Ilanit
• Solenzara 1967
• Sous le ciel de Paris 2005
• Souviens-toi des noëls de là bas 1963
• Souviens-toi, je t'aime aujourd'hui 1975
• Suzy 1993

T

• Toi la mer immense 1967
• Tous les hommes se ressemblent 1970
• Tous les soleils de l'amitié 1981
• Tout seul 1966
• Tu n'es pas seul au monde 2011

U

• Un amour, une amie 1990 avec Ginni Gallan
• Un berger vient de tomber 1981
• Un rayon de soleil 1967
• Un refrain 1967
• Un signe de la main 1975
• Un soir d'été 1963
• Une fille à marier 1982

V

• Va-t'en 1962
• Vagabonds sans rivage 1963
• Le Vent du sud 1989
• Vers qui vers quoi 1988
• Le Vertige 1974
• La vie populaire 2005
• Vieille terre 1965
• Le violon de mon père 1977
• Vous les femmes 1965
• Le Voyage 2003

Y

• Les yeux de l'amour 1967

Z

• Zingarella 1988

Film and TV Roles

Enrico Macias has also appeared in movies and TV shows:

• 1965: L'Esbrouffe – he played himself.
• 1978: Mamma Rosa ou La farce du destin (TV mini-series).
• 2001: La Vérité si je mens! 2 – he played Maurice Boudboul.
• 2003: Les clés de bagnole – he played a comedian.
• 2005: Monsieur Molina (TV series) – he played a judge.
• 2006: Un ticket pour l'espace – he was the voice of Enrico.
• 2009: Coco – he played a designer.
• 2011: Bienvenue à bord – he played himself.
• 2012: La Vérité si je mens! 3 – he played Maurice Boudboul again.
• 2012: Scènes de ménages: ce soir, ils reçoivent (TV series) – he played a priest.
• 2019: Family Business (Netflix series) – he played himself.

He has also contributed to movie soundtracks and appeared in documentaries about himself and his career.

See also

In Spanish: Enrico Macias para niños