Les Compagnons de la chanson

Les Compagnons de la chanson were a French harmony vocal group from Lyon, France, founded in 1946. Their best known song was "Les trois cloches" recorded with Edith Piaf in 1946. They were a nine-member group, and they were popular in France with some success internationally, and they continued to perform until 1985.

Career

They were originally part of a choir formed in 1941 as part of the Compagnons de France movement of Vichy France, then renamed the Compagnons de la musique. The group met Edith Piaf first in 1944 in a benefit concert for railway workers in Paris and Piaf decided to help promote the group. She launch the group in Paris in May 1946 at a concert in Club des Cinq. Jean Cocteau, who was in attendance at their show, wrote of their performance: "The miracle has happened that these two solitudes joined together to create a sound artefact which so expresses France that the tears start to flow."

In July 1946, Les Compagnons and Piaf recorded a French language song, "Les trois cloches", which was written by Jean Villard with an arrangement by group member Marc Herrand. "Les trois cloches" became their most successful songs.

Les Compagnons performed with Piaf for two years, including a successful tour in the United States, where they introduced the song "Les trois cloches" to the American audience. The English version "The Three Bells" with lyrics added by Bert Reisfeld, first recorded by the Melody Maids in 1948. Les Compagnons also recorded "The Three Bells" without Piaf, and Les Compagnons' version of "The Three Bells" reached No. 14 in the United States in 1952, and peaked at No. 21 in the UK Singles Chart in October 1959. The song later became a No. 1 hit for the Browns in 1959, with over one million copies in the US. It also reached No. 6 in the UK chart.

The line-up of Les Compagnons changed over time; they had eight, then nine members for large part of their career: three tenors, three baritones and three basses, In the beginning they usually performed ''a cappella'' or with a guitar or another instrument, later performances also included orchestral accompaniment.

They appeared in the 1948 film with Piaf, ''Neuf Garçons, un cœur''. They also performed in the operatta ''Minnie Moustache'' in 1956 written by group member Jean Broussolle and Georges van Parys.

After the group and Piaf went on their separate ways, they continued to enjoy successes in France and Belgium until the late 1960s when one of the early members Guy Bourguignon died. Some of Les Compagnons de la chanson's biggest hits were "Le marchand de bonheur", " La marche des anges", " Tom Dooley", "Verte campagne" (" Greenfields") and the aforementioned and re-titled "The Three Bells".

The group also toured internationally, including North America, Africa, Israel, Japan and other countries.

Les Compagnons de la chanson made over 350 records and undertook up to 300 concerts per year. They decided to disband in 1980, but their farewell tour lasted for a few years more. Their final concert was February 14, 1985, at the Olympia in Paris. Fred Mella continued to perform as a solo artist until 2008,

Members

The members of the group have varied from the beginning. At the end of 1946, the members of the group were Fred Mella (tenor, 1924–2019), Marc Holtz/Herrand (tenor and conductor, 1925-), Paul Buissonneau (tenor, 1926-2014), Jean Albert (tenor, 1920–2003), Gérard Sabbat (baritone, 1926-2013), Hubert Lancelot (baritone, 1923-1995), Jean-Louis Jaubert (bass, 1920-2013), Guy Bourguignon (bass, 1920-1969), and Jo Frachon (bass, 1919-1992). Fred Mella was the tenor soloist of the group.

The line-up of the group continued to change over the years. Buissonneau left after a tour of Quebec when he married a Canadian and chose to stay in Canada. He was replaced by Mella's younger brother René (1926–2019). Marc Herrand left in 1952 to become a conductor and was replaced by Jean Broussolle (baritone and composer, 1920-1984). Jean Albert left in 1956 and was replaced by Jean-Pierre Calvet (tenor and lyricist, 1925-1989). Guy Bourguignon died in 1969 but they decided not to replace him. Jean Broussolle left in 1972 to concentrate on his career as a composer, and was replaced by Michel Cassez (Gaston) (1931-). Other members included Mario Hirlé (1925–1992).

Discography

Singles

Charts source:

References

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Pathé-Marconi artists
Capitol Records artists
Columbia Records artists