Enrico Macias

Enrico Macias (born Gaston Ghrenassia December 11, 1938) is an Algerian-born French Jewish singer. He was born in Constantine, Algeria and played the guitar since childhood. His father was a violinist in an orchestra that played primarily maalouf, Andalo-Arabic music. Gaston started playing with the orchestra at 15, and soon replaced the bandleader, Cheick Raymond. He pursued a career as a school teacher, but continued practicing the guitar. In 1961, Cheick Raymond was killed, and the situation became untenable for the Jewish residents of Constantine.