SEAN-O-VISTA

Song: Le Rai C’Est Chic    Artist: Cheb Mami   Album: Dellali 2001

Cheb Mami was born in Graba-el-wed a populous quarter of Saïda, Algeria. Located 170 kilometres south of Oran, the city of Saida is on the high mesas of northwestern Algeria.

It was in 1985 that Mami came to Paris and found his musical niche.

He was in military service for two years in Algeria but was an entertainer on army bases. After that, in May 1989, Mami returned to Paris at the Olympia, rejuvenating Raï music. He also toured the United States, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Scandinavia and England.

Mami’s music is a blend of Mediterranean and Western influences including Turkish, Flamenco and Greek music as well as Latin music. His voice is tinged with Andalusian accents, and his music is an amalgamation of the traditional and the modern styles of singing and creation of music.