Khaled (musician)
The 'King of Raï' who transformed a regional Algerian folk style into a global dance phenomenon with anthems of love and rebellion.
Born 1960 (age 66)·Algerian raï musician·Birthday: February 29·Baby Boomers
Biography
Born in Oran, Algeria, Khaled was a child of the raï scene, earning the nickname 'Cheb' (young) as a teen singer in the bustling wedding and club circuit. Raï, a raw, poetic music of the people, found its ultimate voice in him. His 1992 album 'Khaled' and its seismic hit 'Didi' blasted through borders, fusing traditional Algerian rhythms with slick, international production and making him a superstar across the Arab world and Europe. More than just a pop success, Khaled's music carried the spirit of a generation, blending themes of joy, heartache, and social commentary. His subsequent collaborations with Western artists like Don Was and Moby further cemented his role as a crucial bridge between North African and global pop, ensuring the passionate, reed-driven sound of raï reached dance floors everywhere.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Khaled was born in 1960, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Khaled Was Born
The biggest hits of 1960
#1 Movie
Swiss Family Robinson
Best Picture
The Apartment
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Khaled's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1960Born
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1965Started school
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1973Became a teenager
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1976Could drive
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1978Could vote
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Turned 21
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1990Turned 30
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 40
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 50
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 60
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 66 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- His 1992 single 'Didi' became a massive international hit, catapulting the Algerian raï genre to worldwide attention.
- The album 'Khaled' (1992) sold millions of copies globally and is considered a landmark in world music.
- Collaborated with a wide range of artists from Faudel to Carlos Santana and Moby, expanding raï's cross-cultural influence.
Did You Know?
He began performing and recording locally in Oran as early as age 14.
Khaled holds the distinction of being the first major raï artist to perform in Israel, in 1995.
He provided vocals for the song 'Aïcha' on Cheb Mami's album, which became another major international raï hit.
“Raï is the music of the people. It speaks of real life, of love, of pain, of the streets.”
