Los Angeles (California), USA - Algerian musician Khaled, one of the greatest singers in North Africa and the Middle East has just released a new album and will tour the US and Canada this summer with a spectacular lineup of producers, musicians and singers: Don Was, KC Porter, Elan, Walfredo Reyes Jr., Cheb i Sabbah, Freddie Ravel, Luis Conte, John Fumo, and more surprise guests to be announced in each city. The tour will began on June 26th and continues through July 16th, 2005.

The next concert will bee on Sunday, July 3rd at 3:00pm in New York City. It's free admission although donations are encouraged. Central Park SummerStage, (Enter park at 5th Ave. & 72nd St. or 69th St.).

A pioneer and innovator of Algerian raï, Khaled is back with a brand new album just released in the US: Ya-Rayi. As released in France last year, Ya-Rayi was already a great album. It garnered him a BBC Award for World Music for the Middle East and North Africa. But the US version is a marked improvement, not only because the music has been re-mastered, re-edited, re-sequenced, and in the case of the title track, partially re-tracked, but because one of the most songs on the album was recorded especially for this release. Producer Don Was (Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt) mixed the new version of the song "Ya-Rayi" with Khaled in Los Angeles in December, and during that visit, Khaled worked with
another producer, KC Porter (Santana, Ricky Martin), to create two bonus tracks: "Love to the People" in both English and Arabic versions.

"Love to the People" was co-produced by award winning, Arab–North African music producer Dawn Elder, also the executive producer for the US version of Ya-Rayi. "Love to the People" marks the first time Khaled has sung in both
English and Arabic, and the song finds him blending his voice with the smooth, reggae vocals of Elan, an interweaving with soaring guitar work from Carlos Santana.

This Khaled recording moves easily from funky, danceable rhythms to pop, balladry, and plenty of hardcore raï. On the funky side, "Ya-Rayi" reunites Khaled with tenor saxophonist David McMurray who played on previous hits like "Didi" and "Walou Walou." Khaled is backed by The Orchestra of Cairo and a tight brass section. On "Mani Hani," Khaled is accompanied by veteran North African pianist Maurice El Médioni. The Arabic version of "Love to the People" offers the perfect balance between Khaled’s voice and Carlos Santana’s signature guitar.

Hot on the heels of the US release of Ya-Rayi, Khaled begins his first American tour since 2002. "Peace through Music, Love to the People" is a cross-cultural encounter between musical greats. Performing with Khaled for the very first time live since they began working together, will be producers Don Was (bass, vocals) and KC Porter (piano, vocals). Also sharing the microphone will be young reggae artist Elan, as well as composer & pianist, Freddie Ravel.

The rhythm section for the tour features Cuban drummer Walfredo Reyes, Jr. and master percussionist Luis Conte. At the turntable will be world music DJ Cheb i Sabbah. Together with Khaled’s usual band members, this once-in-a-lifetime ensemble includes some of the finest musicians in North Africa, Middle East and France. Additional surprise guests are planned for each city on the tour.

Tour Dates:

July 3rd: CENTRAL PARK SUMMERSTAGE - NEW YORK, NY
July 5th: MONTREAL JAZZ FESTIVAL - MONTREAL, CANADA
July 8th: GRAND PERFORMANCES - LOS ANGELES, CA
July 10th: STERN GROVE FESTIVAL - SAN FRANCISCO
July 13th: HOUSE OF BLUES - NEW ORLEANS, LA
July 14th: HOUSE OF BLUES - ORLANDO, FL
July 16th: CONCERT OF COLORS - DETROIT, MI

*ADDITIONAL CITIES STILL TO BE ANNOUNCED AND FALL TOUR LINE UP

[Khaled photos courtesy of Dawn Elder Management].