Biography
One of the foremost voices in rai, Cheb Aissa—born Ali-Sherif Benaissa—keeps pairing his feather-light singing and buoyant stage presence with blends of classic and contemporary city sounds. After landing a breakthrough success on his follow-up cassette Bela-Babi in 1988, he has gone on drawing listeners through his singular approach to rai-trab, a roots-derived form built around spontaneous lines and shifting vocal inflections. Born in Saida, a modest town lying two hundred kilometers west of Oran, he drew his first musical spark from the performances of his mother and maternal grandmother, who sang only before all-female crowds. He made his initial appearance on stage during one of those gatherings at age twelve. While still a teenager he entered the profession, becoming a member of the local rai ensemble Farachete in 1986 and performing in cultural venues across Algeria. After relocating to Oran in 1988 he spent a month sleeping outdoors until he secured spots in modest cabarets; the next year he issued his first cassette. In 1996 he settled in Marseilles and secured a deal with the French imprint Blue Silver. His first CD, Chira France—tracked in Oran and issued in 1997—opened doors to leading Paris venues such as Café de la Danse. Nouara, his next album, appeared in 1999. During those formative years he received guidance from rai singer Cheb Mami.
Albums
