Areski Belkacem

Areski Belkacem (23 January 1940 – 1 June 2026), also known simply as Areski, was a French singer, multi-instrumentalist, comedian, and composer. Life and career Areski Belkacem grew up in Versailles, where his parents, of Kabyle (Berber) descent, welcomed Algerian musicians: “at my house, post-war stars, old chaâbi veterans, were coming to play at my parents’ home.” As an adolescent, he watched rehearsals, for Olympia concerts, by Édith Piaf, The Beatles or Jacques Brel, in the great room of the Cyrano cinema. He began in dancing clubs, second-rate restaurants, and then went on to play at weddings, playing popular hits, and began performing on stage thanks to catholic sponsorship. Discography Albums with Jacques Higelin * Higelin et Areski (Saravah, 1969) Albums with Brigitte Fontaine * Comme à la radio (with the Art Ensemble of Chicago, Saravah, 1970) * Je ne connais pas cet homme (Saravah, 1973) * L’Incendie (Byg Records, 1974) * Le Bonheur (Saravah, 1975) * Vous et Nous (Saravah, 1977) * Les églantines sont peut-être formidables (RCA/Saravah, 1980) Solo albums * Un beau matin (Saravah, 1970) * Le Triomphe de l’amour (Universal Music Classic & Jazz, 2010) Singles * Quand tous le