Luc Cherki

Luc Cherki, composer of Judeo-Arabo-Andalusian music and chaâbi singer, was born in Algiers, Algeria, in 1933. Fascinated by chaâbi music, he learned the violin and guitar at the Conservatoire d'Alger at the age of 12, graduating second in his class. He made a name for himself thanks to a contract that enabled him to sing for almost an hour every week on Radio Alger, as well as performing at galas. Forced to leave Algeria in 1955, he settled in Paris, where he performed every evening in an Oriental cabaret. He met Eddy Barclay, who signed him to release his first album, Le Mariage Juif (1974), which sold 50,000 copies. For the next twelve years, Luc Cherki toured Europe, North Africa and the United States, releasing two albums, a homonym and a live album following his concert at L'Olympia in 1980. His most memorable singles are "Le Disque oriental" and "Alger, Algeria". The artist decided to give up music in 1981 and went into the ready-to-wear business. He returned to the stage spontaneously by invitation, and released a final album, Mazal, in 2000.