Cheb i Sabbah

Cheb i Sabbah
Birth nameSerge El Beze[1]
Born(1947-08-07)7 August 1947
Constantine, Algeria
Died6 November 2013(2013-11-06) (aged 66)
San Francisco, California, United States
GenresGlobal Electronica
Occupation(s)DJ, composer, producer
Years active1989–2013
LabelsSix Degrees

Cheb i Sabbah[2] (7 August 1947 – 6 November 2013)[3] was a DJ and composer/producer known for combining Asian, Arabian, and African sounds into his compositions. Sabbah was of Jewish and Berber descent.[2][4] He was born in Algeria and came from a family of musicians.[5] When he was a teenager, Sabbah moved to Paris and, in 1964, began his career DJing American soul music records.[6] In 1984, he settled as a DJ in San Francisco.[4] In 1989 he began using the stage name "Cheb i Sabbah", which translates to "young of the morning".[7] He has seven recordings on the Six Degrees Records label.

Sabbah's performances included live musicians, dancers and massive projected visuals, backing up his electronic music. He was nominated for the BBC's 2006 Award for World Music in the Club Global category.[8]

His song "Toura Toura: Nav Deep Remix" was featured in soundtrack of FIFA 08 as well as Cricket 07.

Sabbah was diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer in May 2011.[1] He died on November 6, 2013, in San Francisco.[9]

Discography

  • Shri Durga (1999)
  • Maha Maya-Shri Durga Remixed (2000)
  • Krishna Lila (2002)
  • Krishna Lila Select (Bhajans) (2002)
  • La Kahena (2005)
  • La Kahena Remixed-EP (2005)
  • La Ghriba-La Kahena Remixed (2006)
  • Devotion (2008)
  • Samaya: A Benefit Album For Cheb i Sabbah (2012)

References

  1. ^ a b Curiel, Jonathan (July 21, 2013). "Back From the Brink of Cancer, Cheb i Sabbah Spins His Riveting Blend of Global Music". KQED. Archived from the original on July 24, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Jewish DJ Captivates Arab Ears", The Forward, January 19, 2007.
  3. ^ Lusk, Jon (20 November 2013). "Cheb I Sabbah: Pioneering DJ and producer who explored spirituality with his fusion of dance beats and world music". The Independent. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
  4. ^ a b Bernhard, Brendan (June 28, 2000). "East Is South". LA Weekly.
  5. ^ Gaurav (April 21, 2002). "Cheb i Sabbah: 'Krishna Lila' and Everything Else". Asian Vibrations. Archived from the original on May 29, 2008. Retrieved September 13, 2007.
  6. ^ Lavezzoli, Peter (2006-04-24). The Dawn of Indian Music in the West. A&C Black. ISBN 9780826418159.
  7. ^ FRONTLINE - Interview with dj Cheb i Sabbah
  8. ^ BBC – Awards for World Music 2006 – Cheb i Sabbah
  9. ^ Bigg, Margot (18 November 2013). "R.I.P. Cheb I Sabbah". Rolling Stone India.