Cerrone facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cerrone
Cerrone in 2011
Background information
Birth name	Marc Cerrone
Born	(1952-05-24) 24 May 1952 (age 73) Vitry-sur-Seine, France
Genres	Euro disco, post-disco, funk, electronic, French house
Occupation(s)	Musician, record producer, songwriter
Instruments	Drums, keyboards, synthesizer
Years active	1972–present
Labels	Malligator Productions

Marc Cerrone (born May 24, 1952) is a famous French musician, songwriter, and producer. He is best known for his popular disco music in the 1970s and 1980s. He is a master of the drums, keyboards, and synthesizer.

Cerrone has sold more than 30 million albums all over the world. His most famous album, Supernature, sold eight million copies by itself. His song "Love in C Minor" was a huge hit in 1976, selling three million copies. Another famous song, "Supernature" from 1977, mixed the sound of a big orchestra with electronic synthesizers. For his amazing work, he won six awards at the 1978 Billboard Disco Forum, including Disco Artist of the Year.

Cerrone is also known for putting on incredible live shows. In 1991, he performed a show called Harmony in Tokyo for over 800,000 people. The show celebrated the launch of Japan's first high-definition TV channel. He has worked with many other famous artists, like Nile Rodgers and the band Toto. His music has also been used by modern artists like Bob Sinclar and the Beastie Boys.

Early Life and First Steps in Music

Cerrone was born in Vitry-sur-Seine, France, to Italian parents. He started playing the drums when he was 12 years old and loved listening to soul music. His father did not want him to be a musician, but Cerrone followed his passion. By the time he was 17, he was helping the holiday company Club Med hire rock bands for their resorts.

Before becoming a solo star, Cerrone was part of a band called Kongas. They released a hit song called "Anikana-O," which became popular in the United States after it was remixed for dance clubs.

Rise to Disco Stardom

Love in C Minor

Working in Paris, Cerrone recorded his first solo album, Love in C Minor. It was released on his own record label. When copies of the album were sent to the United States, DJs in New York started playing it in clubs, and it became a big hit. The record company Atlantic Records signed him, and he moved to the U.S. The album cover was changed for the American release. Besides the title track, the album also included a popular cover of the song "Black Is Black".

Cerrone's Paradise

Cerrone's second album was called Cerrone's Paradise. For this album, he worked with the arranger Raymond Donnez, also known as Don Ray. The album continued his success in the disco world. The cover for the American release featured a photo of Cerrone in a Hawaiian shirt.

Supernature: A Sci-Fi Disco Hit

Cerrone in 1977

His third album, Supernature, was his biggest success, selling over eight million copies. This album was different because it mixed lush orchestra sounds with new electronic music. The title song, "Supernature", tells a science fiction story about mutant creatures who rebel against the scientists who created them.

The song "Supernature" became very famous in the United Kingdom as the theme music for The Kenny Everett Video Show. More recently, it was a main theme at the 2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in Paris, where it was featured in a spectacular light show at the Eiffel Tower.

The Golden Touch

After the huge success of Supernature, Cerrone released his fourth album, Cerrone IV: The Golden Touch. It was another hit on the U.S. disco charts. The album included popular tracks like "Je Suis Music" and "Look for Love." It even featured a guitar solo by Jimmy Page from the legendary band Led Zeppelin on the song "Rocket in the Pocket."

Exploring New Sounds

In the 1980s, Cerrone began to experiment with different styles of music. On his album Cerrone V, he tried singing lead vocals for the first time. He worked with musicians from the band Toto and continued to explore new sounds.

His later albums, like You Are the One and Back Track, featured different vocalists and electronic instruments. The song "Tripping on the Moon" became a big hit in European clubs. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Cerrone continued to release music, always trying new things and working with different artists.

Career in the 21st Century

In 2002, Cerrone released the album Hysteria. In 2005, he was given the title of Commandeur in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, one of France's highest honors for artists.

He continued to release new music, including the album Celebrate! in 2007 and Red Lips in 2016. In 2009, he released an album of his songs remixed by DJ Jamie Lewis for free on his website. He said he believed music should be free and that artists needed to find new ways to earn a living.

Famous Live Performances

Cerrone is famous for his massive concerts and events.

• French Revolution Bicentenary (1989): He performed at a huge celebration in Paris for the 200th anniversary of the French Revolution.
• Tokyo "Harmony" Concert (1991): He put on a show for 800,000 people in the Port of Tokyo to launch Japan's first high-definition TV channel.
• Los Angeles Millennium (2000): He created a show for the New Year's celebration in Los Angeles.
• Versailles Dance Party (2005): He held a free concert at the famous Palace of Versailles, calling it "the biggest discotheque in the world."
• Central Park NY Dance Party (2008): With his friend Nile Rodgers, he organized a giant dance party in New York's Central Park to celebrate 30 years of dance music.

Discography

Studio albums

See also

In Spanish: Cerrone para niños

• List of Billboard number-one dance club songs
• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart