André Claveau

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André Claveau at the Eurovision Song Contest 1958

André Claveau (born December 17, 1915 in Paris , † July 4, 2003 in Brassac , Département Tarn ) was a French chansonnier and film actor. He celebrated his greatest successes in the years 1940 to 1960.

Life

After completing his schooling, Claveau, the son of an upholsterer, attended the renowned Parisian Ecole Boulle , which was a hallmark of furniture making and other crafts, and then joined the Compagnie des Arts Français in Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, founded in 1919 by André Mare and Louis Süe a. He worked as a graphic artist , designed jewelry and created the sets for Jean Anouilh's play "L'Hérmine" as well as posters for the singer Damia and the singer Jean Lumière . In 1936 he emerged as the winner of the Swiss Post's chanson competition for amateurs "Premières Chances" and met the chanson writer and composer Alexandre Siniavine . For six years he sang in the opening credits program before famous artists performed in various Parisian music halls such as the Mogador (1939), the Pacra (1940) and the Européen (1941).

However, success did not materialize until the Second World War, after Claveau was noticed in 1942, at the age of 27, by artist agent Marc Duthyl . After Paris was liberated from the German occupiers in the summer of 1944, he accepted the offer to work as a radio presenter . With his soft voice and his sentimental songs, he won over the female audience in particular and earned the nickname Prince de la Chanson de Charme (Prince of the Charming Chansons). At the same time, the track “Marjolaine” from the album “Le Bal de la Victoire” (The Winner's Ball) achieved great sales successes. From then on, Claveau rose to become one of the most popular French chanson singers and has appeared in numerous films as an actor.

In 1950 he brought out the original of the chanson Cerisier rose et pommier blanc , which later became the massive instrumental hit Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White . The famous birthday song Bon anniversaire, nos voeux les plus sincères , which Claveau sang in 1951 in the film Un jour avec vous by Jean-René Legrand , in which Simone Logeart and André Gabriello were his partners, also became a box-office hit . In 1958 he won the Grand Prix Eurovision de la Chanson Européenne with the title Dors mon amour .

His good looks, his natural charm and, above all, his full, velvety and well-carrying voice contributed to his success.

At the height of his fame, André Claveau withdrew completely from public life at the end of the 1960s. He died in Brassac on July 4, 2003 at the age of 87.

Chansons (selection)

Claveau at the award ceremony of the Eurovision Song Contest 1958 together with conductor Franck Pourcel and presenter Hannie Lips .

André Claveau owed his chansons to the lyricists and composers Jacques Plante , Louis Poterat , Rachel Thoreau-Florence Véran , Jacques Larue , Jean Dréjac , René Rouzaud , André Grassi , Jean Ferrat , Hubert Giraud , Louis Ducreux , Henri Contet , André Hornez , Paul Misraki , Francis Blanche Louiguy (Louis Gugliemi), Roland Tessier , Jacques Simonot , Louis Ferrari.

  • Chez moi (Venez donc chez moi, Paul Misraki)
  • Seul ce soir (1941)
  • Les yeux d'Elsa (1942, text Louis Aragon , music Jean Ferrat, Maurice Vandair)
  • J'ai pleuré sur tes pas (1943, text by Roland Tessier, music by Jacques Simonot)
  • Marjolaine (around 1944)
  • Une nuit mon amour (1949, text by Sergely, music by Alec Siniavine )
  • Domino (1950, text by Jacques Plante, music by Louis Ferrari)
  • Bon anniversaire, nos voeux les plus sincères (1951, text by Jacques Larue, music by Francis Blanche Louiguy)
  • Dors mon amour (1958, awarded in the Grand Prix Eurovision de la Chanson Européenne )
  • C'est bon d'aimer

Filmography

  • 1947: Le destin s'amuse (Emil E. Reinert)
  • 1949: Les Vagabonds de rêve (Charles-Félix Tavano)
  • 1951: Cœur-sur-Mer (Jacques Daniel-Norman)
  • 1951: Pas de vacances pour Monsieur le Maire ( Maurice Labro )
  • 1952: Un jour avec vous (Jean-René Legrand)
  • 1952: Les surprises d'une nuit de noces (Jean Vallé)
  • 1953: Rires de Paris (Henri Lepage)
  • 1953: La route du bonheur (Maurice Labro)
  • 1955: French Can Can ( Jean Renoir )
  • 1960: Escaped from Hell ( Prisonniers de la brousse ) (Willy Rozier)

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Claveau, André
BRIEF DESCRIPTION French chansonnier and film actor
DATE OF BIRTH December 17, 1915
PLACE OF BIRTH Paris
DATE OF DEATH 4th July 2003
Place of death Brassac , Tarn department