Guy Khalifa

Artist

Algeria

January 1, 1953

Biography

Guy Khalifa is a French pianist and conductor, born in 1953 in Algeria. He has composed under the pseudonyms Guy Zu Khalifa, Gary Jenkins, and Gary Picketson. He began playing the piano at the age of 5 and continued his musical studies at the École Normale de Musique in Paris. He has distinguished himself in the musical field, developing a career in France after his debut in Algeria. From 1976 to 1980, he composed and performed several film scores (for television) as well as incidental music for the "Café de la Gare." He also participated in the band Odeurs. From 1980 to 1990, he joined the band Magma, recording and touring, while accompanying various French singers, such as Renaud, Bernard Lavilliers, Guyon, Michel Jonasz, Francis Lalanne, and others. In 1985, he won a prize for Polish music interpretation in Paris. Since 1988, he has taught piano and singing at several conservatories (in the 12th and 19th arrondissements of Paris) as well as at various music schools in Aquitaine (C.I.A.M. in Bordeaux, Atelier 104, École de Musique de Lège-Cap-Ferret, etc.). Highly regarded as a soloist and accompanist, he regularly performs on stage with various choirs and dance classes, as well as with his wife, classical singer Marie-Louise Khalifa. In 2012, he formed a duo with classical guitarist and singer Arnaud Chevalier, featuring the repertoire of Léo Ferré. Guy Khalifa composed for fiction and documentary films such as "Tant Pis Si Je Meurs" (1987), "Mémoire Commune" (1978) and "Les Matous Sont Romantiques" (1981)...