Khaled (musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Khaled
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Khaled performing in 2011
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| Background information | |
| Native name |
خالد
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| Birth name | Khaled Hadj Ibrahim (خالد حاج إبراهيم) |
| Born | 29 February 1960 Oran, Algeria |
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| Years active | 1974–present |
| Musical career | |
| Also known as | King of Raï Cheb Khaled The Ambassador of Arab music |
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| Labels | Universal |
Khaled Hadj Ibrahim (born 29 February 1960), known simply as Khaled, is a famous Algerian singer, musician, and songwriter. He started recording music when he was a teenager, using the name Cheb Khaled, which means "Young Khaled" in Arabic. "Cheb" is a common title for young male Raï singers.
Khaled is one of the most important musicians in the history of Raï music in his home country, Algeria. He is also one of the most well-known Arab singers around the world. He has sold over 80.5 million albums globally, making him one of the best-selling Arabic-language singers ever. Some of his most famous songs include "Aïcha", "Didi", and "C'est la vie".
He even holds a Guinness World Record for being the best-selling artist of Raï music.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Khaled was born on 29 February 1960 in Oran, a city in Algeria. He grew up loving music and started his journey as a singer at a young age.
Rise to Musical Fame
Khaled's career really took off thanks to people who believed in his talent. A director from a state arts office, Hosni Snoussi, helped him and other Raï stars perform at a big festival in Algiers in July 1985. In the same year, Khaled was named the "King of Raï" at the first official Raï festival in Oran.
Hosni Snoussi also helped Khaled perform at the first Raï festival in France in 1986. This helped Khaled become more known in France, where he later moved. In 1988, he released an album called Kutché with Algerian jazz musician Safy Boutella, which further grew his fame.
In 1992, he decided to drop "Cheb" from his name and released the album Khaled. The first song from this album, "Didi", became a huge hit. It was popular in Europe, the Arab world, and even in Asia. This song made him an international superstar.
Khaled's Global Impact
Khaled is seen as a pioneer in World music. He has crossed many borders with his music, becoming one of the most popular performers globally. He mixes traditional Algerian music with Western styles like soul, rock, and reggae. This creates his unique sound and voice.
Khaled is celebrated not just for his music, but also for helping to connect different cultures. By selling over 80 million copies worldwide, he has become an unofficial ambassador for Arab music.
His hit song "Didi" from 1993 was incredibly popular. It topped music charts in France, Belgium, and Spain. It was also used in Bollywood movies like Shreeman Aashiq, Airlift, and Highway.
In 2004, Khaled performed at the Grammy Jam in Los Angeles. He joined other famous artists to honor the band Earth, Wind & Fire. He even mixed their song "Brazilian Rhymes" with his own "Didi", showing how music can connect different parts of the world.
In 2012, Khaled's album C’est la vie was a massive success. It sold over one million copies in Europe and more than 4 million copies worldwide. The album reached number 5 on the official French Albums Chart.
Personal Life
On 12 January 1995, Khaled married Samira Diabi. They have four daughters and one son together.
In 1998, a book about his life was published called Khaled: Derrière le sourire, which means "Khaled: Behind the Smile" in French.
In August 2013, Khaled was given Moroccan citizenship. He accepted it, feeling he could not refuse this honor.
Khaled's Achievements and Awards
Khaled has received many honors and awards throughout his career, showing his huge impact on music.
- He was the first Arab singer to win a World Music Awards in 1992.
- He holds a Guinness World Record for being the best-selling artist of Raï music since 2000.
- He is the only Arab singer to have performed at the FIFA World Cup ceremony (in 2010).
- He is a goodwill ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
- He was named one of the top 50 Voices in the World by NPR.
- He has performed in many countries around the world, including the USA, Canada, Japan, India, and many European countries.
- He is the only Arab singer to have songs chart in countries like France, Sweden, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland.
- He won a César Award in 1994 for Best Original Music for the film 1, 2, 3, Sun.
- He also won a Venice Film Festival award in 1993 for Best Music for the same film.
- He has performed at L'Olympia in Paris five times, more than any other Arab singer.
- He has won multiple Kora Awards for Best Male Artist of North Africa.
- In 2005, he won the BBC Radio 3 Award for World Music in the Middle East and North Africa category.
- He received the Antonio Carlos-Jobim Award at the Montreal International Jazz Festival in 2005.
- In 2013, he won the Murex D'Or award for Best International Song and Best International Singer for "C'est La Vie".
Images for kids
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Khaled performing in 2011
See also
In Spanish: Khaled para niños
