Cheb Mami

About

Singer of popular Algerian Arabic and Egyptian Arabic songs and known for albums like Prince of Rai and Layali.

Before Fame

He sang and played accordion on the streets as a young man and started playing weddings in 1980.

Trivia

He was sentenced to five years in prison for attempting to make his girlfriend, photographer Isabelle Simon, have a forced abortion.

Family Life

He was raised in a family of factory workers.

Associated With

He sang a duet with Sting called "Desert Rose," which made singles charts worldwide.