Frogtoon Music

Goulou Leness by El Hachemi Guerouabi

Artist Biography For El Hachemi Guerouabi

El Hachmi Guerouabi Born January 6 1938 In Algiers Algeria - Died July 17 2006 In Zeralda Algeria Was An Algerian Singer And Composer Of Chaâbi And One Of The Grand Masters Of The Algiers-Based Chaâbi Music.
He Was Born In El Mouradia Algiers And Grew Up In Bélouizdad Formerly Belcourt . Two Passions Occupied Guerouabi's Childhood Football And Music. Being A Good Footballer He Played With La Redoute AC Football Club Until 1952. By Then He Had Developed A Special Interest To Music In Particular The Music Of El Hadj M'Hamed El Anka M'rizek And Hssissen.
His Win In The El Arbi Music-Hall Contest Helped Him Join The Opera Of Algiers In 1953 Where He Was Engaged In Music But Also Played Several Theatrical Roles Including The Famous Haroun Errachid.
After The Independence Of Algeria From France In 1962 Guerouabi Saw The Invasion Of Foreign Music Especially From Europe And Egypt As A Threat To The Traditional Algerian Music. He Tries To Attract A Younger Audience By Introducing Fundamental Changes In His Compositions That Will Later Make Him A Distinctive And Master Of Chaâbi.
Guerouabi Continued His Innovations And Became An Icon Of The Algerian Popular Music. He Was Invited To Perform In Various Occasions By Prestigious Institutions And Notable Individuals Which Added To His Popularity And Respect Among Chaâbi Fans.
In 1987 Guerouabi Went On A Pilgrimage In Mecca Saudi Arabia And Gained The Title Of “El-Hadj”. He Moved To Paris France In The Late 1990s For Medical Treatment For Severe Diabetes Where He Settled Until His Death In 2006. Despite His Illness Guerouabi Continued To Produce Music Play In Concerts Around The World And Play At Weddings But In February 2005 He Had Undergone A Surgery That Resulted In The Amputation Of His Leg And His Decision To Quit Music. However Due To A Growing Demand From His Homeland He Gave His Last Concert In Algiers On July 4 2005 In Front Of A Very Large Audience. He Was Admitted To Hospital Again In July 2006 One Year Exactly After His Last Public Appearance After A Heart Attack Which Cost Him His Life. El Hachmi Guerouabi Died On July 17 2006 In Zeralda Near Algiers And Left Behind Him A Large Repertoire Of Music A Musical Renaissance But Most Importantly A Remarkable Contribution To The Vulgarisation Of Chaâbi.

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