Julien Clerc
Encyclopedia
Julien Clerc, ʒy.ljɛ̃ klɛʁ, born as Paul Alain Leclerc on 4 October 1947 in Paris, Clerc's parents divorced when he was still young. He grew up listening to classical music in his father's home, while his mother introduced him to the music of such singers as Georges Brassens
and Edith Piaf
. He began to learn the piano at six, and by 13, started to play by ear everything he heard on the radio.
During his high school and university days, he met Maurice Vallet and Etienne Roda-Gil, two of his main songwriters, and began to compose his first songs. He changed his name to Julien Clerc upon signing a contract with Pathé Marconi, releasing his first album in May 1968.
Clerc's famous vibrato voice and neosymphonic music, coupled with the almost dreamlike lyrics written by Vallet and Roda-Gil, fitted in with that period of change. The album went on to win the Charles Cros Academy Record Award. In 1969, Clerc went on the Olympia stage for the first time to open for Gilbert Becaud's concert. Despite having been in show business for only one year, his performance was a great success. He would later return repeatedly to the Olympia for a series of concerts.
From May 1969 to February 1970, he starred in the highly successful Paris run of the musical, "Hair", which gave him an ideal platform to enhance his growing stature as an artist.
By the age of 24, Clerc already had his wax effigy in the Paris Musée Grevin. He had become a major star and continued to record hit after hit, many of which were sold abroad, translated and distributed in other languages.
In 1979, he took part in two new collaborative ventures, singing the title song of the children's musical, "Emilie Jolie" and participating in "36 Front Populaire", a double album musical about a turbulent historical period. Over the years, Clerc's repertoire has ranged from his own compositions to classic French songs like "Comme Hier" by Brassens and "L'hymne à l'amour" by Edith Piaf
. He has performed in Africa, the Americas and Europe.
In January 1999, Clerc went on stage at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées and delivered an unplugged acoustic set that was a long way from the rock/pop-based shows that he had been giving his audience for some years. In 2000, he appeared, along with many other artists, in a number of benefit concerts for Restaurants du Coeur, a charity which provides food to the needy in France, particularly during the difficult winter months.
In 2003 Clerc recorded a new album of classic American "standards", in French. On another front, Clerc was named UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador at a ceremony in Paris in November 2003 after working for nearly two years with the agency on various benevolent projects for refugees. In March 2004, he undertook his first field mission to meet with refugees and aid workers in Chad. His mission was documented by "Envoyé spécial" and was broadcast on a national French TV channel in April 2004.
; daughter Vanille and son Barnabé with then-wife Virginie Coupérie; and son Léonard with his current companion, Hélène Grémillon.
Cooperation in
Georges Brassens
Georges Brassens , 22 October 1921 – 29 October 1981), was a French singer-songwriter and poet.Brassens was born in Sète, a town in southern France near Montpellier...
and Edith Piaf
Édith Piaf
Édith Piaf , born Édith Giovanna Gassion, was a French singer and cultural icon who became widely regarded as France's greatest popular singer. Her singing reflected her life, with her specialty being ballads...
. He began to learn the piano at six, and by 13, started to play by ear everything he heard on the radio.
During his high school and university days, he met Maurice Vallet and Etienne Roda-Gil, two of his main songwriters, and began to compose his first songs. He changed his name to Julien Clerc upon signing a contract with Pathé Marconi, releasing his first album in May 1968.
Clerc's famous vibrato voice and neosymphonic music, coupled with the almost dreamlike lyrics written by Vallet and Roda-Gil, fitted in with that period of change. The album went on to win the Charles Cros Academy Record Award. In 1969, Clerc went on the Olympia stage for the first time to open for Gilbert Becaud's concert. Despite having been in show business for only one year, his performance was a great success. He would later return repeatedly to the Olympia for a series of concerts.
From May 1969 to February 1970, he starred in the highly successful Paris run of the musical, "Hair", which gave him an ideal platform to enhance his growing stature as an artist.
By the age of 24, Clerc already had his wax effigy in the Paris Musée Grevin. He had become a major star and continued to record hit after hit, many of which were sold abroad, translated and distributed in other languages.
In 1979, he took part in two new collaborative ventures, singing the title song of the children's musical, "Emilie Jolie" and participating in "36 Front Populaire", a double album musical about a turbulent historical period. Over the years, Clerc's repertoire has ranged from his own compositions to classic French songs like "Comme Hier" by Brassens and "L'hymne à l'amour" by Edith Piaf
Édith Piaf
Édith Piaf , born Édith Giovanna Gassion, was a French singer and cultural icon who became widely regarded as France's greatest popular singer. Her singing reflected her life, with her specialty being ballads...
. He has performed in Africa, the Americas and Europe.
In January 1999, Clerc went on stage at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées and delivered an unplugged acoustic set that was a long way from the rock/pop-based shows that he had been giving his audience for some years. In 2000, he appeared, along with many other artists, in a number of benefit concerts for Restaurants du Coeur, a charity which provides food to the needy in France, particularly during the difficult winter months.
In 2003 Clerc recorded a new album of classic American "standards", in French. On another front, Clerc was named UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador at a ceremony in Paris in November 2003 after working for nearly two years with the agency on various benevolent projects for refugees. In March 2004, he undertook his first field mission to meet with refugees and aid workers in Chad. His mission was documented by "Envoyé spécial" and was broadcast on a national French TV channel in April 2004.
Family
Clerc is divorced and has five children: daughters Angèle (adopted) and Jeanne with French actress Miou-MiouMiou-Miou
Miou-Miou is a French actress. In her career she has worked with a number of international directors, including Michel Gondry, Bertrand Blier, Yves Boisset, Claude Berri, Jacques Deray, Michel Deville, Diane Kurys, Radu Mihăileanu, Patrice Leconte, Joseph Losey and Louis Malle.-Career:She was born...
; daughter Vanille and son Barnabé with then-wife Virginie Coupérie; and son Léonard with his current companion, Hélène Grémillon.
Discography
- 1968, Yann et les dauphins.
- 1970, Des jours entiers à t'aimer
- 1971, Julien Clerc
- 1972, Liberté égalité ou la mort
- 1973, Julien
- 1974, Terre de France
- 1975, N°7
- 1976, A mon âge et a l'heure qu'il est
- 1978, Jaloux
- 1979, 36 Front populaire (comédie musicale)
- 1980, Clerc Julien
- 1980, Sans entracte
- 1981, Vendredi 13 (live à Lyon mars 1981)
- 1982, Femmes indiscrétion et blasphème
- 1983, Pantin 1983 (live)
- 1984, Aime-moi
- 1987, Les aventures à l'eau
- 1990, Fais-moi une place
- 1990, Pierre et le Loup de Prokofiev (voix off)
- 1991, Amours secretes...passions publiques
- 1992, Utile
- 1994, Olympia integral 94 (live)
- 1996, Julien
- 1997, Si on chantait (compilation)
- 1997, Le 4 octobre (live 4 octobre 1997) Concert to celebrate his 30-year music career in the Palais des Sports.
- 1998, Integrale 68–98
- 1999, Aimer (ses plus belles chanson d'amour) + Danser + Partir (compilations)
- 2000, Si j'étais elle
- 2002, Julien déménage électrique-acoustique (live 2cds)
- 2003, Studio (album de reprise 13 titres)
- 2005, Double Enfance
- 2006, 100 Chansons (compilation 5 CD)
- 2008, Où s'en vont les avions ?Où s'en vont les avions ?Où s'en vont les avions ? is a studio album recorded by French singer Julien Clerc and released on 12 September 2008. The album went straight to number-one in France and Belgium . Maxime Le Forestier, Benjamin Biolay, Carla Bruni are among the artists who wrote some tracks for this album...
- 2011, Fou, Peut-être
Cooperation in
- 1979, Emilie Jolie by Philippe Chatel
External links
- Official website
- www.julienclerc.eu
- Biography of Julien Clerc, Radio France InternationaleRadio France InternationaleRadio France Internationale was created in 1975 as part of Radio France by the Government of France, and replaced the Poste Colonial , Paris Mondial , Radio Paris , RTF Radio Paris and ORTF Radio Paris...
- Julien Clerc discography
- Clerc's photo
