Belle Epoque (band)
Encyclopedia
Belle Epoque was the name of a female vocal trio
, based in Paris
, France
. The group first rose to popularity during the mid to late 1970s with a disco remake
of the song
, "Black Is Black
", originally a hit
in 1966 for the Spanish
group Los Bravos.
and performing in the early 1960s under the name Evy, as well as two back-up singers
. Originally, the back-up singers were Jusy Fortes (also known as Judy Lisboa), originating from Cape Verde
, and Marcia Briscoe (also known as Marcia Briscue), hailing from Atlanta
, Georgia
. However, over time, as Lenton notes, "The girls kept changing with the circumstances."
The trio scored a major Europe
an hit in 1977 with their discofied remake of "Black Is Black", sometimes also known as "Disco Sound/Black Is Black". The Belle Epoque version was a top ten hit in many European countries, including number 2 in the UK Singles Chart
(the same chart position that Los Bravos' original had reached there eleven years earlier). The song also became a number 1 hit in Australia in 1978.
In the U.S.
, Belle Epoque are better known for another song, "Miss Broadway", which charted at number 26 on the U.S. R&B
chart
and at number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100
in 1978. "Miss Broadway" and "Black Is Black" both rose to number 21 on Billboard
's "National Disco Action Top 40
" chart in summer 1977.
Other hits in continental Europe followed into the late 1970s. Lenton began recording solo
again in 1983, although she has worked with contemporary music producers
to craft remix
es of "Black Is Black" and "Miss Broadway."
Trio (music)
Trio is generally used in any of the following ways:* A group of three musicians playing the same or different musical instrument.* The performance of a piece of music by three people.* The contrasting section of a piece in ternary form...
, based in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The group first rose to popularity during the mid to late 1970s with a disco remake
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of the song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
, "Black Is Black
Black Is Black
"Black Is Black" is a song by rock band Los Bravos, released in 1966 as the group's debut single for Decca Records. Produced by Ivor Raymonde, the song reached number two in the UK,number four in the U.S.,and number one in Canada....
", originally a hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
in 1966 for the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
group Los Bravos.
History
Belle Epoque consisted of lead singer Evelyne Lenton, a French singer who began recordingSound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
and performing in the early 1960s under the name Evy, as well as two back-up singers
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
. Originally, the back-up singers were Jusy Fortes (also known as Judy Lisboa), originating from Cape Verde
Cape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
, and Marcia Briscoe (also known as Marcia Briscue), hailing from Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. However, over time, as Lenton notes, "The girls kept changing with the circumstances."
The trio scored a major Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an hit in 1977 with their discofied remake of "Black Is Black", sometimes also known as "Disco Sound/Black Is Black". The Belle Epoque version was a top ten hit in many European countries, including number 2 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
(the same chart position that Los Bravos' original had reached there eleven years earlier). The song also became a number 1 hit in Australia in 1978.
In the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Belle Epoque are better known for another song, "Miss Broadway", which charted at number 26 on the U.S. R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
and at number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in 1978. "Miss Broadway" and "Black Is Black" both rose to number 21 on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
's "National Disco Action Top 40
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
" chart in summer 1977.
Other hits in continental Europe followed into the late 1970s. Lenton began recording solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
again in 1983, although she has worked with contemporary music producers
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
to craft remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
es of "Black Is Black" and "Miss Broadway."
Name
- In UKUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
sources, such as David Roberts' British Hit Singles & Albums, the band is listed by the name "La Belle Epoque." In U.S. sources, such as Joel Whitburn's Hot Dance/Disco 1974-2003 and Top Pop Singles 1955-2002, the group is listed as "Belle Epoque." Evelyne Lenton's official website lists the band's name as "Belle Epoque." "Belle Epoque" is also the name listed for the group on its first U.S. albumAlbumAn album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Miss Broadway, released in 1977 on Big Tree RecordsBig Tree RecordsBig Tree Records was a record label founded by current Sony Music Entertainment chairman Doug Morris in 1970. They were best known for releases by Lobo, England Dan & John Ford Coley, Brownsville Station and British R&B group Hot Chocolate....
(BT 76008). But the cover of their "Black Is Black" single (extended version) is shown as "La Belle Epoque". A reproduction of this cover can be seen on the popular video download site (YT) for example.
Singles
- "Black Is BlackBlack Is Black"Black Is Black" is a song by rock band Los Bravos, released in 1966 as the group's debut single for Decca Records. Produced by Ivor Raymonde, the song reached number two in the UK,number four in the U.S.,and number one in Canada....
", 1977 - "Miss Broadway", 1977
- "Bamalama", 1978
- "Let Men Be", 1978
- "Now", 1979
- "Jump Down", 1979
- "Come On"