Blond-Blond

Real name Albert Rouimi, the Algerian singer Blond-Blond, who owes his nickname to his albinism, was born in Oran on November 3, 1919. His passion for singing quickly caught up with him, particularly after listening to his role models Larbi Bensari and Messaoud El Medioni. He arrived in Paris at the age of 18 and covered popular artists of the day such as Maurice Chevalier and Charles Trenet in radio crochets, before returning to Oran in 1939 due to the war. In Algeria, he made a name for himself, even earning the nickname "l'ambianceur" for his light, spontaneous style, innovative for the time. His repertoire drew on the influence of Lili Labassi, and included chaabi elements, as well as classical Arabo-Andalusian repertoire and more contemporary styles such as tango and flamenco. Returning to Paris after the war, he pursued his career in fashionable cabarets such as "Au Soleil d'Algérie", "El Djezaïr", "Les nuits du Liban" and "Le Nomade", accompanying a number of artists including Judeo-Maghrebi singers Samy El Maghribi and Line Monty. After speaking out in favor of Algerian independence in 1962, he returned to the country several times in the 1970s to sing. He settled in Marseille, where he died on August 15, 1999 at the age of 79. His best-known songs include "Viens à Juan-les-Pins", "Wahran el Bayia" and "Kouftanek Mahloul", all of which appear on the 2017 compilation Trésors de la Chanson Judéo-arabe .