Al rayah rachid taha biography

An obituary occupy the iconic Algerian nightingale who clearcut up accept war view racism

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Rachid Taha: An ‘independent thinker’ and a true Arab rock star

MARBELLA: The legendary Algerian singer Rachid Taha — aka ‘The King of Rock & Rai’ and ‘The Rebel Voice of a Generation’ — died five years ago this week. Known for both his effortlessly cool look — black curls, fedora, cigarettes — and his raspy vocals, Taha hit the peak of his popularity in the 1990s, thanks to versions of timeless Arabic hits “Ya Rayah” and “Abdel Kader” (the latter with fellow Algerian singers — and fellow rai masters — Cheb Khaled and Faudel).  

One of Taha’s longtime collaborators was English guitarist and producer Steve Hillage, who first met Taha back in 1982. At the time, Taha — who emigrated with his family to France in the late 1960s — was frontman of the Arab-Franco rock band Carte de Séjour (‘residence permit’), and Hillage received a call, asking if he would produce their debut album.  

Hillage headed to the band’s base in Lyon. “I was taken to a small show they were doing and I walked into the dressing room, and there was Rachid,” Hillage tells Arab News. “He was playing some really interesting chaabi music on a cassette, and he said, ‘Bonjour Steve! Listen to this (music), it’s pure blues.’ That was the first thing we discussed. We became good friends from that mom

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Rachid Taha

Algerian singer (1958–2018)

Musical artist

Rachid Taha (Arabic: رشيد طه, Rashīd Ṭāhā, [raʃiːdtˤaːhaː]; 18 September 1958 – 12 September 2018) was an Algerian singer and activist^[1][5] based in France^[2] described as "sonically adventurous".^[5] His music was influenced by many different styles including rock, electronic, punk and raï.

Early life

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Taha was born on 18 September 1958^[1][6] in Sig, Mascara Province, Algeria,^[1] although a second source suggests he was born in the Algerian seacoast city of Oran.^[6] This town was the "birthplace of raï" music, and 1958 was a key year in the Algerian struggle for independence against French authority.^[6] He began listening to Algerian music in the 1960s,^[4] including street-style music called chaabi.^[4] Additionally, music from the Maghreb region was part of his upbringing.^[7]

He moved with his parents to France when he was ten years old, settling in an immigrant community around the French city of Lyon^[1] in 1968.^[8] His father was a textile factory worker,^[9] with long hours and low pay, such that his life was compared to that of a "modern slave"