It was in New York, November 5, 1938, was born Joseph Ira
Dassin. His father, Julius, of Russian Jewish origin, trying to make a
name as an actor, while his mother Beatrice Launer, of Hungarian origin, is a
violinist in a female orchestra. Based in Los Angeles, Jules Dassin gets 40 years in one of the
most talented directors in Hollywood, and Joe leads a pleasant childhood with
his two sisters Julie and Rickie, in sunny California. But politically
engaged, father of Joe Dassin, is stuck on the blacklists of
"McCarthy" period at the end of the war. He decided to leave the
United States with his family. After a few years of constant travel around
the world, and countless schools visit to Joe Dassin's family moved to Paris in
1950. More passionate about the sport, as studies, Joe picks up his still
Bachelor in Grenoble, with "good". After the divorce of his
parents, the young man chooses, in 1956, returning to the United States, where
he enrolled at the university, first in medicine, and finally in ethnology. A
brilliant student, he received the equivalent of a doctorate. Meanwhile,
it has many odd jobs to pay for his studies. After cooking, garbage, or
plumber, he won in 1958, a job as disc jockey at a radio station in Detroit,
WCX. He works on this occasion with the creator of the label Tamla Motown,
Berry Gordy. During these few years overseas, Joe Dassin also met Pete Seeger,
famous troubadour of American folk song of the 60s, who became his friend, and
through whom he also met Robert Zimmerman, who s call it not Bob Dylan . He slowly begins to take
an interest in music and singing, and with a French friend, it occurs on the
terraces of bars interpreting Georges Brassens . He took the
opportunity to learn the guitar. In the early 60s, back in Europe, he
still small businesses. It touches a little cinema through his father, and
became the host of the radio station RTL. On this occasion, he met a press
of the house of CBS discs offered to record a 45. In March 1965, then
released "I change a little wind", as adapted from an American. Sales
do not exceed 1800 copies, but this failure pushes Joe Dassin to persevere,
convinced that he can succeed. His encounter with lyricist Jacques Plaid
gives birth to songs that will bring him brilliantly in the charts at the time.
In 1966, with "Beep Beep", he had his first success, and became
overnight a real star. His warm, deep voice, his American origins,
elegance, makes him a character that quickly stirs the curiosity a public eager
for novelty. His repertoire, especially in its early stages, is largely
inspired by American songs, folk or country. In 1966, Joe Dassin married
Maryse, a young woman who was seven years his senior, who is very much involved
in its early stages because it takes the role of attached press secretary or
impresario. Learning the ropes on the job Joe Dassin is distinguished from
the outset by a strong perfectionism. He chose to save all his music in London
for a more modern and sophisticated sound, and then place his work in one of
the best arrangers of the time, Johnny Arthey. In 1967, it provides the
first part of the tour Salvatore Adamo, then 68, are linked tubes, starting
with "Les Dalton". Finally, the year 1969 marked the dedication
of the Franco-American singer. In addition to a tour of Canada and Africa,
its summer tour in France happens in terms worthy of a star. All recitals
take place sold out, and the public, essentially feminine, loose. The gold
discs are increasing, and Joe Dassin received the Prix Charles Cros Academy disc, award given to
the most important interpreters of French song. then in September 69, he
went on stage at the Olympia ultimate sign of success. The 70 open under
excellent auspices. In 1970, the title "Les Champs-Elysées"
beats sales records. 70 to 75, he successfully navigates between tours,
gold records, televisions shows and luxurious. In May 1972, he bought land
in Tahiti, near the island of Bora Bora, where he can practice one of his
favorite sports, deep sea fishing He went there as often as possible while
still surrounded by many friends, including the singer Carlos. This is
also the only artist other than himself, for whom Joe Dassin wrote songs. February
19, 1974, he found the scene of Olympia. Its authorized lyricists then
call Lemesle Claude and Pierre Delanoë. It is to them that Joe Dassin
request in 1975 to write a title that could become the hit of the summer. In
October "Indian Summer" an adaptation of a successful Italian Toto Cutugno becoming the biggest selling his
entire career. This year, Joe Dassin bought a house north of Paris, the
Seine and Oise and also his private apartments, there raises a studio and moved
its offices to a better control all aspects of his career. 1975 was also
the year of his divorce. In 1976, Joe Cocker invaded the charts with
"It will not change the world", then 77, is entitled "A
toi" which wins public favor. On the discrete nature of his private
life, however Joe Dassin made the front page of magazines in 1978, the year
of his marriage to Christine Delvaux, a young woman he met the singer in
Normandy two years earlier. Amid a crowd of admirers and journalists, the
wedding takes place January 14, 1978 in a small village in Provence, Cotignac,
where Joe Dassin has a home. Their honeymoon takes place in North America,
however, interspersed with concerts and recordings. While he sings in
Canada, was born on September 14 in Paris, his son Jonathan. In 1979, Joe
Dassin went on stage at the Olympia for the last time. In December, a
cardiac alert coupled with an operation due to a stomach ulcer, weakens the
singer, who canceled his tours. In March 1980, a second child is born,
Julien. But the couple divorced a few weeks later. In the months that
followed, Joe Dassin suffered two heart attacks, in Paris and Los Angeles. On
July 11, he gave a final gala in Cannes, then hand resting at his home in
Tahiti with his son, his mother and some friends. There he died of a heart
attack last Wednesday, August 20 at a lunch in a restaurant in Papeete. Extraordinarily
popular Joe Dassin belongs to the heritage of the French song. Listened
very, very sold worldwide, his songs are still today, almost twenty years after
his death, widely broadcast on.
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