Claude Francois – Non-extinguishing STAR FRENCH SCENE
The career of a nightclub singer is no longer satisfying Claude. World fame beckons him, but first the singer decided to conquer Paris. At the end of 1961, he and his family moved to the capital. At this time in the musical world there were big changes – American rock and roll broke into French pop music. Twist and jive were at their peak of popularity, Ye-Yeh’s rock-and-roll style was formed. The cult youth program was “Hello, friends”, where the famous world-wide hits, twists and other works of new styles were performed in French. The young singer was going to find his niche in this environment. At first, he joined the Olivier Despax Les Gamblers group. He was paid a penny, but this is not the main thing, the main thing – success. Ambitious Claude understands solo career – the only path to fame. He possessed a kind of talent to feel where you need to direct forces. But, nevertheless, the first record “Nabout twist”, recorded in 1962 under the pseudonym Koko, became a loud failure!
With no doubt
After the first failure, Claude was not going to give up. With even more zeal, he strives for success. More ready to do to achieve fame. singer Claude FrancoisThe song “Belles belles belles” becomes the starting point for Claude Francois’s giddy career. His father never believed in the success of his son, and so it happened, Aime did not live to see this success. He died a few months before the release of the first hit of his son. When the song of Claude Francois sounded in the program “Hello, friends,” everyone was forced to recognize in him a rising star. “Belles belles belles” – reversed to the French “Made To Love” by Everly Brothers – occupied the top of the charts in the summer of 1962. Under the leadership of the impresario Paul Lederman, Claude began a real singer career. The first time he releases songs on the plates of more famous singers and goes as a “warm-up” on tour with “Le Shosssett Noir.” But super-energetic and with a fierce temperament, Claude overshadows others. There were reports of the appearance of a new superstar, and the name of Claude Francois rang on the French stage.
He writes down hits one by one. What is surprising, most of his songs are rehearsals of English hits in French. It would seem that he didn’t do anything extraordinary, but the English hits he sang left an unforgettable mark on the music world of the 60s.
Famous Claude Francois House
Claude was on the wave of success. Financial problems left behind. In 1964, he bought a plot of land in the beautiful countryside of the Dannem Ile-de-France region. An old windmill (Le Moulin), presumably built between 1345 and 1410, was located on this site, and there was even a legend that Jeanne d’Arc stopped there …
A few weeks after the mill was bought, Claude released the hit “La ferme du bonheur”, and on the site he built a little rustic at first glance country house, vaguely reminiscent of old English country houses. The house, which has always dreamed, in general, turned out wonderful. Mimosa flowers, colorful roses, fragrant magnolias, and palm trees grew around the house. Not far from the house was equipped with a place for a barbecue, a house for animals, a vegetable garden and a swimming pool. Claude adored animals, and in his house one could meet the most incredible living creatures: parakeets, peacocks, swans, ducks, dogs and cats, and even a monkey named Ness-Ness.
The singer’s favorite place was the garden. Claude Francois liked to sit in the garden next to the pool. The house had a cinema, gym, sauna, bar. And of course the wine cellar. Like a real Frenchman, Claude really appreciated wine and possessed an extensive collection of expensive brands.
In pursuit of glory
In September 1964, Claude performed for the first time in the famous Paris Olympia. This concert was a great success. The song “J’y pense et puis j’oublie”, written and performed under the influence of emotions associated with the separation from Janet, sounded especially emotional.
In 1965, several new hits were released, including “Les choses de la maison” and “Meme si tu revenais”. Participation in the well-known radio program “Musikoram” was a huge success. Claude Francois writes his version of Cinderella. And in 1966 he created the dance group “Les Claudettes” of four girls who danced in the back singer Claude Francoaplane during his own performances. The idea to create “Les Claudettes” arose long ago, in January 1965, during a trip to Las Vegas. The American shows made an indelible impression on him, and he decided to build something of his own on the same principle.
It seemed that what Claude Francois would take, wherever he directed his creative energy, a triumph awaits him everywhere. During the tour in the summer of 1966, at his concerts, there was a massive hysteria of female fans fainting from an excess of emotions. At the end of the same year another performance took place in Olympia, where an incredible success awaited him again.
