Written by Zaid Bawab
Algerian singer Cheb Khaled paid tribute to his close friend and fellow singer Rashid Taha that passed away on the 11th of September.
Khaled talked about Taha, their friendship, collaborations and the big success they received together.
Cheb Khaled said in a phone call on "Al Nahhar" Algerian TV station that even before they performed together, him and Taha were friends and that they are both from the same city, thus he considered him as a brother to him.
He also added that Rasheed was the first person he met with when he traveled to France, because Taha traveled before him there and that he helped him and always stood by his side.
Cheb Khaled emphasized that Rashid was a friend of his for a long time and that their friendship lasted until his death, as they met regularly and exchanged advice and ideas.
Cheb Khaled revealed that in their last discussion they were thinking about singing together again as in the past, when they were successful alongside Cheb Faudel.
Rashid died at 59 from a sudden heart attack while he was sleeping at his house in the French capital, Paris.
Rashid Taha was born in Algeria in 1958, and flew to France in the late sixties. Initially he worked in restaurants and factories, then started a band with some of his friends that they called "Séjour" and played music in small clubs.
In 1990 he started working solo and adding dance to his music, mixing rock with Arabic tunes.
One of Taha's most popular albums are Barbès (1991), Olé, Olé (1995), Diwân (1998) and Made in Medina (2000).
