Cheb Khaled

But it was the release of the Algerian singer's second album in 1992, which would transform Cheb Khaled into a veritable international star. Following the release of the album "Khaled" music critics would dub Cheb Khaled the official King of Rai and the Algerian singer would go on to become a household name. The album "Khaled" - recorded partly in Brussels with the aid of producer Michael Brook, partly in Los Angeles with the legendary Don Was - would generate a whole string of hits for the Rai star including the best-selling "Didi". This single would not only rocket to the top of the French Top 50 (making it the first song recorded in Arabic to chart in France !), but "Didi" would also soar to the top of the hit-parade in Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. "Didi" also became a surprise hit in India, where it was covered in Hindi.

The album "Khaled" also paid tribute to the singer's roots, featuring a special track dedicated to his hometown Oran ("Wahrane"). Following the phenomenal success of the album ("Khaled" would go on to sell over 1.5 million copies worldwide), the Algerian star embarked upon another extensive international tour, hundreds of thousands of fans flocking to his concerts.

At the end of this tour Khaled (who by this point had decided to drop the prefix Cheb from his stage name) returned to the studio to begin work on a brand new album entitled "N'ssi N'ssi". Recorded with the aid of producer Don Was and the talented young French arranger Philippe Eidel, "N'ssi N'ssi" also featured a renowned group of violinists from Cairo who used to perform with the legendary Egyptian singer Om Kalthoum. The album "N'ssi N'ssi" released in 1993, would soon prove to be another major hit for Khaled. And all the more so because French director Bertrand Blier would use many of the songs from the album on the soundtrack of his film "Un, deux, trois¼soleil".

Yet, as Khaled continued his vertiginous rise to international stardom, the singer's relationship with his homeland became ever more compromised. Religious fundamentalists were by now omnipresent in Algeria and Khaled's defence of free speech and easy living would have made him a prime target if he had chosen to return to his homeland. Khaled was thus condemned to a life of exile.

Meanwhile Khaled's success in France appeared to know no bounds. In 1994 the singer would carry off a César award (the French equivalent of the Oscar) for Best Film Soundtrack of the Year. Shortly after this triumph Khaled would set off on another international tour. The singer's 1994 tour would include two memorable shows at the Zénith in Paris (on March 3rd and 4th) - which, needless to say, were sold out weeks in advance !

Later that same year Khaled would surprise friends and fans alike by announcing his forthcoming marriage to a beautiful Moroccan girl called Samira. The flamboyant Rai star, renowned for his drinking, wild partying and incessant womanising did not appear to be the ideal candidate for settling down. But on January 12 1995 Khaled tied the knot at a ceremony which was followed by celebrations that went on all night.