Enrico Macias June 7, 2009

Born in Constantine, Algiers in 1938, the son of a Spanish musician and a French mother, Enrico Macias grew up with the rich mix of cultures, listening to the sounds of Arab, French and Spanish music.He emigrated from Algeria to France in 1961, a victim of Algeria's war for independence. As he began his sad journey across the sea, tears welling in his eyes and his guitar strung across his shoulder, he composed a song about the loss of his homeland. This song, which eventually became his first major hit, was !Adieu Mon Pays' ('Goodbye My Homeland').The song tells of the emotional difficulty experienced by those who have been forced to leave their homelands, families and friends. 'Adieu Mon Pays' was the first of many hits recorded by Macias in various languages, including French, Arabic, Hebrew, Armenian, Spanish, Italian, Russian and English. His music has won the hearts of fans around the world and in places as distant as Japan, Liberia and Sudan. Many of his songs reflect his concern for world peace, brotherhood and respect for children.