Les Compagnons de la chanson
Encyclopedia
Les Compagnons de la chanson were a French
vocal group from Lyon
, France
, founded during World War II
. Before 1946, they were part of a larger choir called the 'Compagnons de la musique'. The group met Edith Piaf
in 1952 at an event in Paris
, and recorded
a French language
song, "Les trois cloches
", which was written
in 1945 by Jean Villard Gilles
and Marc Herrand. English
lyrics were later added by Bert Reisfeld
, but it was first recorded by the Melody Maids in 1948.
Some of Les Compagnons de la chanson's biggest hits
were "Tom Dooley
", "Kalinka" and the aforementioned and re-titled "The Three Bells (The Jimmy Brown Song)
". The latter track peaked at #21 in the UK Singles Chart
in October 1959. It suffered from competition by the bigger selling rival version of the time, recorded by the American
family trio of The Browns
. Their version sold over one million copies in the US
alone, and reached #6 in the UK chart.
Les Compagnons de la chanson made over 350 records
and undertook around 300 concerts per year. Their final concert was in 1985.
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...
vocal group from Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, 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...
, founded during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Before 1946, they were part of a larger choir called the 'Compagnons de la musique'. The group met 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...
in 1952 at an event 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...
, and recorded
Sound 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...
a French language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
song, "Les trois cloches
Les trois cloches
"Les trois cloches" was a Swiss song written by Jean Villard Gilles written in French. Edith Piaf and Les Compagnons de la chanson started their US-Tour in 1945/46 with this song, which was one of Ms. Piaf's greatest hits...
", which was written
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
in 1945 by Jean Villard Gilles
Jean Villard Gilles
Jean Villard a.k.a. Gilles, was born on June 2, 1895 in Montreux , and died on March 26, 1982 in Vevey, next to his vineyard village of residence Saint-Saphorin that is reputed for its quality Swiss white wine.- Biography :...
and Marc Herrand. English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
lyrics were later added by Bert Reisfeld
Bert Reisfeld
Bert Reisfeld was a lyricist, noted for adapting lyrics to well-known songs either to or from English. The songs he wrote English lyrics for include:...
, but it was first recorded by the Melody Maids in 1948.
Some of Les Compagnons de la chanson's biggest hits
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...
were "Tom Dooley
Tom Dooley (song)
"Tom Dooley" is an old North Carolina folk song based on the 1866 murder of a woman named Laura Foster in Wilkes County, North Carolina. It is best known today because of a hit version recorded in 1958 by The Kingston Trio. This version was a multi-format hit, reaching #1 in Billboard, the...
", "Kalinka" and the aforementioned and re-titled "The Three Bells (The Jimmy Brown Song)
The Three Bells
"The Three Bells", also known as "Jimmy Brown" or "Little Jimmy Brown", is a song made popular by The Browns in 1959. The single reached number one on the U.S. country and pop charts,. outperforming a competing version by Dick Flood. The version by The Browns also hit number ten on the Hot R&B...
". The latter track peaked at #21 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 ...
in October 1959. It suffered from competition by the bigger selling rival version of the time, recorded by the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
family trio of The Browns
The Browns
The Browns were an American country and folk music vocal trio best known for their 1959 Grammy-nominated hit, "The Three Bells". The group, composed of Jim Ed Brown and his sisters Maxine and Bonnie Brown, had a close, smooth harmony characteristic of the Nashville sound, though their music also...
. Their version sold over one million copies in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
alone, and reached #6 in the UK chart.
Les Compagnons de la chanson made over 350 records
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
and undertook around 300 concerts per year. Their final concert was in 1985.