Enrico Macias

Biography

Gaston Ghrenassia (born 11 December 1938), known by his stage name Enrico Macias, is a French singer, songwriter and musician.

Early years

Gaston Ghrenassia was born to a Sephardic Jewish family in Constantine, French Algeria. His father, Sylvain Ghrenassia (1914–2004), was a violinist in an orchestra that played primarily malouf, Andalusian classical music. Gaston played the guitar from childhood, and started playing with the Cheikh Raymond Leyris Orchestra at age 15.
He pursued a school teacher career, but continued playing the guitar. In 1961, the Algerian War of Independence was raging, and the situation became untenable for Europeans in Constantine. The assassination in 1961 of his father-in-law and musician Cheikh Raymond Leyris by the National Liberation Front (FLN) was of immense effect on Gaston Ghrenassia, and appears to have been due to his opposition to the independence of Algeria from France and pro-Israel stance. Gaston left Algeria with his wife, Suzy, on 29 July 1961, eleven months before the end of the Algerian War of Independence, and went into exile in mainland France. He has not been permitted to return to Algeria ever since.

Career

After living for a time in Argenteuil, he eventually moved to Paris, where he decided to pursue a music career. At first, he tried translating into French the malouf numbers which he already knew. Later on, he developed a new French repertoire that he performed in cafés and cabarets. He remained, though, a popular interpreter of Arab-Andalusian music and Judeo-Arab songs in France.
He adopted the stage name Enrico Macias and made his first recording in 1962 after a meeting with Raymond Bernard of Pathé. The result was the recording of "Adieu mon pays" ("Goodbye, my home country"), which he had composed for his beloved Algeria on the ship on his way to France. He appeared on French television and became an overnight sensation. This led to a first tour in 1963, opening for Paola and Billy Bridge. His daughter, Jocya, was born that year.
In the spring of 1964, he opened for Les Compagnons de la chanson at the Paris Olympia and then undertook a tour of Eastern Mediterranean countries, performing in Israel, Greece, and Turkey. In Turkey, many of his songs were translated and interpreted by Turkish artists. In 1965, he was awarded the Prix Vincent Scotto, and the following year he sang before 120,000 people at the Dinamo Stadium of Moscow, in a tour that took him to more than forty Soviet cities. He also toured Japan and recorded titles in Spanish and Italian.
His American debut, at a sold-out Carnegie Hall concert, took place on 17 February 1968. He continued to tour the United States, singing in Chicago, Dallas, and Los Angeles. In Quebec, Canada, he was warmly welcomed as a Francophone artist.
In 1971, he performed at the Paris Olympia, then at the Royal Albert Hall in London, and back to Japan, Canada, Italy, and Spain. A second US tour culminated in a concert at Carnegie Hall in 1972. In 1974, he gave ten shows at the Uris Theater on Broadway, and also at the Olympia for the sixth time since his debut there.
He toured France and went twice to Israel in 1976 and 1978.
He was invited to Egypt by the Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat to sing for peace. This came after Macias had been banned from Arab countries for many years, despite keeping his popularity with Arab and ethnic audiences in the Middle East and North Africa. In Egypt, he sang in front of 20,000 people at the foot of the Pyramids. After Sadat's assassination, he wrote a song dedicated to the late president entitled "Un berger vient de tomber×Un berger vient de tomber1982 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1Un berger vient de tomber3:18A2La Courte Échelle3:05A3Mon premier amour d’enfance2:30A4On a gagné3:20A5Jusqu’au bout de la course2:30A6L’Instituteur4:17B1Tous les soleils de l’amitié3:45B2À ceux qui m’ont béni3:50B3C’est une femme2:50B4Je porte plainte contre mon cœur2:45B5N’oublie jamais d’où tu viens2:30B6Le Père Noël du monde3:50" ("A shepherd has just fallen").
In 1988, he had a big hit with "Zingarella", particularly in Israel and Turkey, which he toured in addition to South Korea.
In April 1992, he tried acting in a play adapted from the English repertoire, called Quelle Nuit (What a night). He also had a role as a local judge in the French TV film Monsieur Molina.
In July 2019, Macias played himself in the comedy Family Business, broadcast on Netflix.
He also wrote Hatikva's most famous recording, the Israeli anthem, recorded in 1993 for his album "À Suzy×À Suzy5 October 1993 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Suzy3:142Marcher, faut marcher3:523Rien n’a changé3:294La vérité sort de la bouche des enfants3:345Petit papa Noël4:496Dieu de l’espérance3:037Nous les Africains3:508Nous n’avons pas eu de jeunesse4:029Les Clés de Tolède3:4910L’Enfant de mon enfant (Mon petit Simon)3:3511Au nom des droits de l’homme3:2212Hatikva (Hyme national Israélien)3:07".

Albums and singles

Of great popularity were his 1960s Oriental-influenced songs like "Adieu mon pays" (also known as "J'ai quitté mon pays"), "Les filles de mon pays×Les Filles de mon paysAlbum · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Paris, tu m’as pris dans tes bras2:552Pour tout l’or du monde2:333Puisque l’amour commande2:524El porompompero2:385La Femme de mon ami3:126Adieu mon pays2:477Les Millionnaires du dimanche3:168Je t’aimerai pour deux2:329Ma maison, ma maison3:0310Où est donc la vérité ?2:1411Dans la nuit mexicaine (The Singer Not the Song)2:4912Chiquita2:5313Jamais deux sans trois2:2614J’ai peur2:4415S’il fallait tout donner3:0616Ouvre ta main et donne3:09", "L'Oriental", "Entre l'orient et l'occident×Entre l'Orient et l'Occident28 February 2024 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 21 tracks1Entre l'orient et l'occident (Live à l'Olympia / 1976)5:092La France de mon enfance2:583Noël à Jérusalem3:174Oh guitare guitare (Live 2003)3:315Solenzara3:406Adieu mon pays4:127Aux talons de ses souliers3:008Juif espagnol2:389Les Gens du nord (Live à l'Olympia, Paris / 1995)3:4510Enfants de tous pays (Live à l'Olympia, Paris / 1989)3:2011Le Voyage4:1512Oranges amères3:0713Toi Paris tu m'as pris dans tes bras3:0214Snitra2:4715Rien que du bleu4:2016Mon fils2:3017Ma patrie3:0818La Méditerranée3:1319Toi, la mer immense3:1020Le Grain de sable2:4521Constantina4:06" and tribute songs like "Le violon de mon père" (to his father), and "Mon chanteur préferé" (a tribute to his father-in-law Cheikh Raymond).
He was also popular with the French interpretation of "'Oh guitare, guitare" and the Spanish versions of "El Porompompero×El Porompompero1972 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1Oh ! Guitare, guitare2:45A2Puisque nous nous aimons2:20A3Par ton premier baiser3:15A4L’Ami fidèle2:25A5Au cœur de la Сamargue2:30A6L’Oriental3:35B1El porompompero2:50B2Va t’en2:10B3Un air de fête2:35B4Beyrouth2:30B5Nous les adolescents2:10B6Ne doute plus de moi2:25" and "Solenzara".
French hits include "Paris, tu m'as pris dans tes bras", "La femme de mon ami", "Non je n'ai pas oublié", "La France de mon enfance×La France de mon enfance1981 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1La France de mon enfance2:582Ouvre-moi la porte3:16", "Les gens du nord" and "Les filles de mon pays".
He has sung in many languages including French, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew, Turkish, Greek, English, Armenian, Arabic and some of its dialects, as well as in Yiddish.

Achievements

In 1965 he was awarded the Prix Vincent Scotto.
He received a gold disc in 1976 for "Mélisa×Mélisa1975 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1Y'a des matins comme çaA2Je vous apporte la nouvelleA3Souviens-toi je t'aime aujourd'huiA4Le prénom de ton grand-pèreA5Ta lettreA6Un signe de la mainB1Jalousie maladieB2MélisaB3Malheur à celui qui blesse un enfantB4Pourquoi parler d'amourB5Elle reviendra bientôtB6Oumparere".
He was named Singer of Peace by UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim in 1980 after he donated the proceeds of his single "Malheur à celui qui blesse un enfant" to the UNICEF.
In 1997, Kofi Annan named him Roving Ambassador for Peace and the Defence of Children.

Collaborations

He has collaborated with numerous artists and his songs have been interpreted in many languages.

He sang "Melisa", "Je t'apprendrai l'amour", "Un grand amour×Un grand amour1971 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1Un grand amour3:10A2Chacun sa destinée2:41A3À Venise2:45A4La Fête orientale2:55A5C'est du soleil2:56A6Le Grand Pardon2:56B1J'irai jusqu'en Auvergne2:46B2Ça s'arrose2:39B3J'aime quand tu m'aimes2:34B4Où s'en vont les amours d'été2:37B5Oui moi j'espère3:22B6Je suis content pour toi2:11" and "On s'embrasse et on oublie" as a duet with internationally famous Turkish singer Ajda Pekkan and they released a live album called "A L'Olympia" together in 1976.
In 1985, he collaborated with numerous artists to sing "Viva Les Bleus", a France national football team song to the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico.
In 1990, he had a duet with Killing Joke Jazz Coleman entitled "Minarets and Memories".
In 1991, he had a duet with Ginni Gallan entitled "Un amour, une amie".
In 2003, he sang "Koum Tara" with Cheb Mami featured in the latter's album Du Sud au Nord and again a live version, this time on Cheb Mami's 2004 album Live au Grand Rex
In Turkey, many artists have interpreted his songs with Turkish lyrics including Ajda Pekkan, Başar Tamer, Berkant, Engin Evin, Ferdi Özbeğen, Gökben, Gönül Yazar, Hümeyra, İhsan Kayral, Juanito, Kamuran Akkor, Mavi Çocuklar, Nilüfer, Ömür Göksel, Selçuk Ural, Semiramis Pekkan, Seyyal Taner, Sezer Güvenirgil, Sibel Egemen, Tanju Okan, Yeliz

Controversies

His decision to try to play concerts in Algeria resulted in huge controversy. After the cancellation of a proposed tour in Algeria in 2000, he wrote a book Mon Algérie, marketed as a "veritable love story between one man and his homeland".
On 14 February 2007, he announced his support of Nicolas Sarkozy for the French presidential elections. He confirmed his political convictions of the political left, but said he could not support the Socialist candidate Ségolène Royal, although he would have supported Laurent Fabius or Dominique Strauss-Kahn if they had been the candidates.
He attempted again unsuccessfully to visit Algeria in November 2007 accompanying French president Nicolas Sarkozy, but was faced with fierce resistance from several Algerian organizations and individuals, including Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem, due to Macias's support for Israel. He has never been permitted to return to Algeria since he left in 1961.
In September 2025, Turkish authorities banned Macias from performing at a concert in the Şişli district, Istanbul over his pro-Israeli stance and after "intense calls for protests against the concert." This came after Macias stated in an interview on YouTube in August: "My problem is that I can’t stand the violence of the terrorists, and if there was violence on the Israeli side, it was because of Hamas."

Personal life

Enrico Macias is a widower. His wife Suzy Leyris suffered heart disease and died on 23 December 2008. His 1993 album Suzy is dedicated to her. He has a son Jean-Claude, who worked with him as a musician and a daughter named Jocya.

Studio albums

1983: Deux ailes et trois plumes
1984: Générosité
1987: Enrico
1989: Le vent du sud
1991: Enrico
1992: Mon chanteur préferé
1993: Suzy
1994: La France de mon enfance
1995: Et Johnny Chante L'amour
1999: Aie Aie Aie Je T'Aime
1999: Hommage à Cheikh Raymond
2003: Oranges amères
2005: Chanter
2006: La Vie populaire
2011: Voyage d'une mélodie
2012: Venez tous mes amis!
2016: Les clefs
2019: Enrico Macias & Al orchestra

Live albums / compilations

1968: Olympia 68
1989: Olympia 89
1990: Disque d'Or
1992: Le plus grand bonheur du monde
1996: La Fête à l'Olympia
2003: Les Indispensables de Enrico Macias
2003: Concerts Musicorama
2006: Olympia 2003
2006: Les Concerts Exclusifs Europe
2008: Platinum Collection

Songs

(Macias songs in alphabetical order)
A

A ceux qui m'ont béni 1981
A la face de l'humanité 1972
A Venise 1971
Adieu mon pays 1962
Aie aie aie je t'aime 1989
Aime-moi je t'aime 1986
Aimez vous les uns les autres 1977
L'âme des gitans 1977
Ami, dis lui 1965
L'ami fidèle 1964
L'amour c'est pour rien 1964
L'amour de la famille 1978
L'amour n'est jamais fini 1979
Apprendre à vivre ensemble 1995
Après moi 1989
Asturias 1970
Au cœur de la Camargue 1963
Au nom des droits de l'homme 1993
Au temps du Balajo 1970
Aux quatre coins du monde 1968
Aux talons de ses souliers 1968
Avec les moyens du bord 1983
B

La ballade des innocents 1987
Beyrouth 1963
Brésil 1995
C

C'est ça l'amour 1973
C'est du soleil 1971
C'est une femme 1981
C'est vrai 1980
C'était le bon temps 1973
Chanson pour l'auvergnat 1974/1997
Chanter 1966
Chiquita 1962
Come on bye bye 1991
Compagnon disparu 1963
Constantina 1984
Constantine 1962
La courte échelle 1981
D

Dans la nuit mexicaine 1963
De musique en musique 1969
Dès que je me réveille 1968
Deux ailes et trois plumes 1983
Deux femmes a Dublin 1976
Dieu de l'espérance 1993
Dis-moi ce qui ne va pas 1968
Dis-moi l'avenir 1973
Dix ans déjà 1970
E

El Porompompero 1964
Elle reviendra bientôt 1975
L'Enfant de mon enfant (Mon petit Symon) 1993
Enfants de tous pays 1963
Entre l'orient et l'occident 1976
Est-il un ennemi? 1965
F

La femme de mon ami 1962
La fête orientale 1971
Les Filles de mon pays 1964
La folle espérance 1977
La France de mon enfance 1980
Le fusil rouillé 1984
G

Générosité 1984
Les gens du nord 1967
Le grain de blé 1966
Le grand pardon 1997
I

L'île du Rhône, 1964 ?
Il est comme le soleil 1977
L'instituteur 1981
J

J'ai douze ans 1989
J'ai peur 1967
J'appelle le soleil 1966
Jalousie maladie 1975
Jamais Deux Sans Trois 1966
J'en ai plein mon cœur des souvenirs 1966
Je crois en Dieu 1971
Je le vois sur ton visage 1967
Je n'ai pas vu mes enfants grandir 1984
Je t'aimerai pour deux 1966
Je vous apporte la nouvelle 1975
Jérusalem j'ai froid 1988
Juif Espagnol 1980
Jusqu'au bout de la course 1981
K

Koum Tara 1976 + avec Cheb Mami (reprise) 1999
L

La lavande 1967
Luther King 1984
La dernière prière 1996
M

Ma maison, ma maison 1962
Ma patrie 1964
Ma raison de vivre 1964
Malheur à celui qui blesse un enfant (Enrico Macias et Jacques Demarny) 1975
La Marelle 1977
Maya 1964
Mélisa 1975
Le mendiant de l'amour 1980
La mère et l'enfant 1989
Les millionnaires du dimanche 1967
Mon ami mon frère 1963
Mon chanteur préféré 1986
Mon cœur d'attache 1966
N

N'oublie jamais d'où tu viens 1967
Ne doute plus de moi 1964
Noël à Jérusalem 1967
Non je n'ai pas oublié 1966
Notre place au soleil 1965
O

Oh guitare, guitare 1962
Oranges amères 2003
L'Oriental 1962
Où est donc la vérité 1966
Oumparere 1975
Ouvre-moi la porte 1980
Ouvre ta main et donne 1963
P

Par ton premier baiser 1962
Pardonne et n'oublie pas 1984
Paris s'allume 1969
Paris tu m'as pris dans tes bras 1964
La part du pauvre 1966
Les pins du bord de l'eau 1964
Le plus grand bonheur du monde 1967
Poï Poï 1963
Pour ton mariage (chantée avec sa fille) 1992
Puisque l'amour commande 1967
Q

Quand les femmes dansent 2003
Quand les hommes vivront d'amour, à l'Olympia en 1989 avec les Petits Chanteurs d'Asnières
R

Reste-moi fidèle 1969
S

Sans voir le jour 1965
S'il fallait tout donner 1964
Si c'était à refaire 1977
Sois fidèle à ton amour 1974 avec Ilanit
Solenzara 1967
Sous le ciel de Paris 2005
Souviens-toi des noëls de là bas 1963
Souviens-toi, je t'aime aujourd'hui 1975
Suzy 1993
T

Toi la mer immense 1967
Tous les hommes se ressemblent 1970
Tous les soleils de l'amitié 1981
Tout seul 1966
Tu n'es pas seul au monde 2011
U

Un amour, une amie 1990 avec Ginni Gallan
Un berger vient de tomber 1981
Un rayon de soleil 1967
Un refrain 1967
Un signe de la main 1975
Un soir d'été 1963
Une fille à marier 1982
V

Va-t'en 1962
Vagabonds sans rivage 1963
Le Vent du sud 1989
Vers qui vers quoi 1988
Le Vertige 1974
La vie populaire 2005
Vieille terre 1965
Le violon de mon père 1977
Vous les femmes 1965
Le Voyage 2003
Y

Les yeux de l'amour 1967
Z

Zingarella 1988