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 les ghettos brûleront, ça va faire un hit (with Brigitte Fontaine, Byg Records, 1974)

Filmography Ça va, ça vient by Pierre Barouh, 1970 Le Grand Soir by Benoît Delépine and Gustave Kervern, 2011