Jean-Michel Delpech (French pronunciation:
">ÉÌ miÊÉl dÉlpÉÊ 26 January 19462 January 2016), known as Michel Delpech, was a French singer-songwriter and actor.
Family
Jean-Michel Bertrand Delpech was born the 26th january of 1946 in Courbevoie, a city located nearby the parisian suburbs. Born during the baby boom, heâs the son of Bertrand Charles Delpech, a metal chrome plater and Christiane CĂ©cile Marie Josselin, housewife. He has got 2 little sisters : Catherine and Martine.
His maternal family (Josselin) is a winegrower family, owner and harvesters of champagne in Gyé-Sur-Seine in the Aube department. His father's ancestral home is in Sologne, more especially in Dhuizon, where his hairdresser grandfather lives and also in La Ferté-Saint-Cyr, where live his uncles and cousins grocers, loggers and farmers. The young Michel spends week-ends and holidays in his provincial family, sometimes working in the grocery store of his aunt.
Career debuts
Its parents having moved to Cormeilles-en-Parisis in Seine-et-Oise (today known as Val-dâOise), Jean-Michel Delpech studied in the Chabanne college and in the Pontoiseâs Camille-Pissarro high-school from 1961 to 1964.
As a teenager he got passionate about famous classic fingers such as Luis Mariano, and then for the great names from the 1950s such as Gilbert NĂ©caud and Charles Aznavour. In 1963, in high school, he created a little orchestra with his schoolmates.
Before attending his final high school exams, he left high school in january 1964 to focus on singing. He took a chance by attending an audition in Paris to join the disque Vogue record company. Just aged 18, he released his first disc named Anatole, and met the composer Roland Vincent. While going to Rolandâs house based in Saint-Cloud for a working session, he rethinks about his highschool years and about the coffee he used to go with his mates after the school day. In the train, between Saint Lazare and Saint Cloud train station, he writes the lyrics of Chez Laurette, for which Roland Vincent felt seduced and inspired and quickly found a melody. Released the 1st of May 1965, during the yĂ©yĂ© period, this nostalgic teenager music wasn't a success at its release but thanks to the numerous radio streams, started to experience a slight celebrity.
In 1965, Michel Delpech attended a musical comedy Copains-Clopant, which was featured for 6 months, before at the MichodiĂšre theater and then at the Gymnase Theater in Paris : the integration of the Chez Laurette Music helped him to be famous. During this musical comedy, Delpech meets Chantal SImon, who he sang a song with. Then heâll marry her at the age of 20 in 1966.
The same year, under the Festival Label, he recorded its 2nd 45 laps : Inventaire 1966, new stepping stone towards the star status. As Jacques Prévert and as a tribute to the poetry, he compiles in the verse of the music, a list of news such as the Vietnam war, the minijupe, the CourrÚges boots, the Cacharel trend, the flower shirts,etc. Still in 1966, he made the first part during 38 shows of Jacques Brell who said goodbye to the Olympia.
Succes
In 1967, Jonny Stack, Mireille Mathieuâs manager takes Michel Delpech in charge and helps him to build up his star image. As the opener of âLa chanteuse dâAvignonâ, he starts a international tour from West Germany, to USSR and United States. Same year, he quits the Festival record company et moves to Barclay.
In 1968, he receives the Grand prix of the French song award, for his song âil y a des jours oĂč on ferait mieux de rester au litâ, (there are some days where youâd better stay in bed) written with Jean Jacques Debout   Â
Itâs an ear of success, in France and abroad : Wight is Wight (novembre 1969) (in memory of rock Festival of the Wight island, Et Paul chantait yesterday (âAnd Paul was singing Yesterday), (tribute to the Beatles who are splitting apart), Pour un flirt (âjust a flingâ) (mai 1971). Wight is Wight, right in the Hippie era, is being sold at more than a million pieces in Europe.
The very Romantic Pour un flirt is a hit in French speaking countries, also. In the Netherlands, his German version is hitting he charts in West Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In just 4 months, more than 4Millions units are being sold. The singer himself is surprised: âI didnât expect the verses big potentials, will he said.
In 1970, the singer leaves his manager Jonnhy Starck to benefit a much wider artistic liberty, and 2 years later, stops his collaboration with Rolland Vincent looking for other writers.
Now a big star, heâs playing at the Olympia, during 3 weeks in a row in January 1972
In 1973, his breakup with Chantal Somin (who left him) and his co-writer Jean Michel Rivat break up with Christine Haas inspire him the song Les DivorcĂ©s, where he speaks about peaceful break up, whereas itâs actually really painful. As this songs contrasts with the usual breezy and happy tone of previous Michel Delpech songs, Barclay company is afraid this song will have a negative iompact on the singer, and they are very hesitating to release the song. The yfinally accept. Good for them, itâs a success with more than hundred of thousands sales. The impact of the lyrics on the society is so big that the mutual agreement divorce law will be adopted 3 years later.
From 1973, success after success, with Que Marianne Ă©tait jolie, Le Chasseur (1974),or Quand j'Ă©tais chanteur (1975),
In 1977, he sings Le Loir-et-Cher, song that speaks with tenderness and irony about Loire et Cher inhabitants, where he was born. « On dirait que ça te gĂȘne de marcher dans la boue, on dirait que ca te gĂȘne de dĂźner avec nous » « looks like you donât want to walk in the mud, looks like you donât want to have dinner with usâ is an illustration of the sometime hard and difficult relationship between cities and country sides.
Career
He was born in
Courbevoie
Courbevoie () is a commune located in the Hauts-de-Seine Department of the Ăle-de-France region of France. It is in the suburbs of the city of Paris, from the center of Paris. The centre of Courbevoie is situated from the city limits of Par ...
, France.
In 1963, Delpech released his debut hit "Anatole" on
Disques Vogue. In 1964, Delpech met Roland Vincent, and a long singing songwriting partnership ensued, with Delpech being signed to Festival French record label.
In 1965, he took part in the music comedy ''Copains Clopant'' that had a six-month run and made him popular, particularly through his interpretation of "Chez Laurette".
He was the opening act for
Jacques Brel
Jacques Romain Georges Brel (, ; 8 April 1929 â 9 October 1978) was a Belgian singer and actor who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted followingâinitially in Belgium and France, l ...
's goodbye concert at the Paris
Olympia
The name Olympia may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Film
* ''Olympia'' (1938 film), by Leni Riefenstahl, documenting the Berlin-hosted Olympic Games
* ''Olympia'' (1998 film), about a Mexican soap opera star who pursues a career as an athlet ...
. In 1967, he collaborated with
Johnny Stark.
In 1968, he won the "Grand Prix du Disque" award for "Il y a des jours oĂč on ferait mieux de rester au lit".
Then he left Vogue to sign with
Barclay Records
Barclay is a French record company and label founded by Eddie Barclay in 1953.
Eddie Barclay was a bandleader, pianist, producer, and nightclub owner. With his wife, Nicole, who was the vocalist in his band, he started Barclay. The catalogue inc ...
.
At the peak of his success, he recorded "
Wight Is Wight
"Wight Is Wight" is a French language, French song by Michel Delpech. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a music recording sales certification, gold disc. Released in 1969 it became a big hit record, hit in France and international ...
" in tribute to the
Isle of Wight Festival
The Isle of Wight Festival is a British music festival which takes place annually in Newport on the Isle of Wight, England. It was originally a counterculture event held from 1968 to 1970.
The 1970 event was by far the largest of these early ...
, a famous rock festival on the
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight ( ) is a county in the English Channel, off the coast of Hampshire, from which it is separated by the Solent. It is the largest and second-most populous island of England. Referred to as 'The Island' by residents, the Isle of ...
that became his best known song.
It sold over one million copies in Europe, and was awarded
gold disc
Music recording certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped, sold, or streamed a certain number of units. The threshold quantity varies by type (such as album, single, music video) and by nation or territory (see ...
status.
'Pour Un Flirt' was a second smash hit.
It charted in the French-speaking countries around the globe as well in the Netherlands, and a version in German brought him charts success in West Germany, Austria and Switzerland. An English translation,
Flirt
Flirting or coquetry is a social and sexual behavior involving spoken or written communication, as well as body language. It is either to suggest interest in a deeper relationship with the other person or, if done playfully, for amusement.
I ...
, made the Top 20 in the UK.
The early 1970s brought separation from Johnny Stark for two years, and the end of the long collaboration with Roland Vincent, his first-ever writer.
He had some new releases but with limited success. In the 1980s, he enjoyed a comeback and released the album ''Loin d'ici''. A compilation album followed in 1989. He continued releasing albums and making concerts. In December 2006, he released an album of duets ''Michel Delpech ''and that topped the French Albums Chart for one week (week of 21â27 January 2007). He also engaged on a French tour.
Personal life
*In 1966, he met Chantal Simon whom he married. Later on the couple divorced, and Delpech suffered depression. He searched for relief in religions, mainly
Buddhism
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and gra ...
and later the Catholic faith.
*In the 1970s, there were also many rumours about attempted suicides, but he denied these rumours in a later biography.
*In 1983, he met GeneviĂšve Garnier-Fabre, a French artist and they married in 1985.
*In 1990, he had a son, Emmanuel. He became a talented guitarist and joined his father in his concerts since 2007.
*In 2007, Pascal Louvrier wrote a biography about him titled ''Michel Delpech - Mis Ă Nu'' published on Editions Perrin.
*In 2011, he played the role of Françoit Gouriot in
Beloved
Beloved may refer to:
Books
* ''Beloved'' (novel), a 1987 novel by Toni Morrison
* ''The Beloved'' (Faulkner novel), a 2012 novel by Australian author Annah Faulkner
*''Beloved'', a 1993 historical romance about Zenobia, by Bertrice Small
Film
...
(French title: Les Bien-aimés)
*In 2011, he was a guest of honor for the sixth season of ''Ăge tendre et TĂȘtes de bois'' broadcast in France, Belgium and Switzerland.
Death
Delpech had long been a heavy smoker, going through a pack of cigarettes daily starting at the age of 18 and quitting only after his diagnosis to
throat cancer
Head and neck cancer develops from tissues in the lip and oral cavity (mouth), larynx (throat), salivary glands, nose, sinuses or the skin of the face. The most common types of head and neck cancers occur in the lip, mouth, and larynx. Symptoms ...
in 2013. He died at a hospital in
Puteaux, France on 2 January 2016 at the age of 69.
Discography
Albums
* 1966: ''Inventaire 66''
* 1969: ''Il y a des jours oĂč on ferait mieux de rester au lit''
* 1970: ''Album''
* 1974: ''Le chasseur''
* 1975: ''Quand j'Ă©tais chanteur''
* 1979: ''5000 kilomĂštres''
* 1986: ''Oubliez tout ce que je vous ai dit''
* 1991: ''Les Voix du Brésil''
* 1997: ''Le roi de rien''
* 1999: ''Cadeau de Noël''
* 2004: ''Comme Vous''
* 2006: ''Michel Delpech &''
* 2009: ''Sexa''
;Compilations
* 1990: ''
J'Ă©tais un ange''
* 1999: ''Fan de toi'' (2 CDs)
* 2008: ''Fan de toi'' (3 CDs)
* 2008: ''Les 100 plus belles chansons''
* 2009: ''Best of''
;Live albums
* 1972: ''Olympia 1972''
* 2005: ''Ce lundi-lĂ au Bataclan''
* 2007: ''Live au Grand Rex''
Singles
;Disques Vogue
*1964: "Anatole"
*1965: "Chez Laurette"
;Festival
*1964 : "Elle se moque de toi"
*1965 : "Copains Clopants"
(with Chantal Simon)
*1965 : "Chez Laurette"
(rereleased in 1970 and with Musidisc in 1978)
*1965 : "T'en fais pas"
*1965 : "Plus d'bac"
*1966 : "Marie-toi Marie Jo"
(rereleased in 1970)
*1966 : "Inventaire 66"
*1966 : "Quand on aime comme on s'aime"
*1966 : "Le restaurant chinois"
(rereleased in 1970)
*1967 : "La Femme de l'an 3000"
;Barclay
*1967 : "Il faut regarder les Ă©toiles"
*1967 : "Pour un coin de Pologne"
*1968 : "Poupée cassée"
*1968 : "Les p'tits cailloux blancs"
*1969 : "Le Mauvais Jardinier"
*1969 : "
Wight Is Wight
"Wight Is Wight" is a French language, French song by Michel Delpech. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a music recording sales certification, gold disc. Released in 1969 it became a big hit record, hit in France and international ...
"
*1969 : "Quand la pluie tombe en été"
*1970 : "Chérie-Lise"
*1970 : "Un coup de pied dans la montagne"
*1971 : "Le blé en herbe"
*1971 : "La Vie, La Vie"
*1971 : *Pour un flirt
*1972 : "Quand un soldat reviens"
*1972 : "MĂȘme pendant la guerre on chante"
*1972 : "Fan de toi"
*1972 : "Que Marianne Ă©tait jolie"
*1973 : "Rimbaud chanterait"
*1973 : "Les divorcés"
*1973 : "Les aveux"
*1973 : "Je pense Ă toi"
*1974 : "Je l'attendais"
*1974 : "Le chasseur (Les oies sauvages)"
*1975 : "Quand jâĂ©tais chanteur"
*1976 : "Ce lundi-lĂ "
*1976 : "Tu me fais planer"
*1976 : "La fille avec des baskets"
*1977 : "Fais un bébé"
*1977 : "Le Loir et Cher"
*1978 : "Câest ta chanson"
(remake of "Your Song
"Your Song" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was John's first international Top 10 chart single.
"Your Song" was first released by American rock band Three Dog Night in M ...
")
*1979 : "Trente maniĂšres de quitter une fille"
(remake of " 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover")
*1979 : "Je cherche un endroit"
*1980 : "Docker"
*1981 : "Bombay"
*1983 : "Animaux animaux"
*1984 : "Loin d'ici"
;Pathé-Marconi / EMI / Charles Talar Records
*1985 : "Rock en U.R.S.S."
*1986 : "J'peux pas dormir"
*1986 : "Oubliez tout ce que je vous ai dit"
*1987 : "Petite France"
*1988 : "Ces mots-lĂ "
;CarrĂšre
*1988 : "Fais glisser tes bas... ces mots-lĂ "
;Tréma
*1989 : "Pleurer le chanteur"
*1990 : "J'Ă©tais un ange"
*1991 : "Les voix du Brésil"
*1992 : "Terre d'amour"
References
External links
Michel Delpech site on Universal Music France*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Delpech, Michel
1946 births
2016 deaths
Burials at PĂšre Lachaise Cemetery
Deaths from cancer in France
Deaths from throat cancer
French male singers
People from Courbevoie