Claude Nougaro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Claude Nougaro
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At the Paris Jazz Festival, June 2003
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| Background information | |
| Born | 9 September 1929 Toulouse, Occitanie, France |
| Died | 4 March 2004 (aged 74) Paris, France |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, poet, songwriter, painter |
Claude Nougaro (born September 9, 1929 – died March 4, 2004) was a famous French jazz singer and poet. He was known for his unique style, mixing jazz music with French lyrics. He also wrote many of his own songs and was a talented painter.
Contents
Life and Career
Early Life and Music
Claude Nougaro was born in Toulouse, France, on September 9, 1929. His father, Pierre Nougaro, was a respected opera singer. His mother, Liette Tellini, was a piano teacher. Claude's grandparents, who were from Italy, raised him in Toulouse. There, he listened to music by artists like Glenn Miller, Édith Piaf, and Louis Armstrong on the radio. These musicians greatly influenced his love for jazz.
In 1947, Claude did not pass his high school exam (called the baccalaureat in France). He then started working as a journalist, writing for different newspapers. At the same time, he began writing songs for other singers, such as Marcel Amont and Philippe Clay. During this period, he became good friends with Georges Brassens, a famous French singer-songwriter, who became his guide and helper.
Starting His Singing Career
In 1949, Claude Nougaro served in the military in Morocco. Later, he sent his song lyrics to Marguerite Monnot, who wrote songs for Édith Piaf. She created music for his words.
In 1959, Claude started singing his own songs in a cabaret in Montmartre, Paris. This was a small club called the Lapin Agile.
Becoming Famous
By 1962, Claude decided to sing his own works more often. Songs like "Une petite fille" and "Cécile ma fille" quickly made him popular. "Cécile ma fille" was a special song dedicated to his daughter, who was born in 1962, and his wife Sylvie. He also performed with popular singers like Dalida, which helped him reach a wider audience.
In 1963, he had a car accident that kept him from performing for several months. The next year, he traveled to Brazil. He performed in famous venues like the Paris Olympia and the Théâtre de la Ville in Paris. In 1965, after his friend Jacques Audiberti passed away, Nougaro wrote a song called "Chanson pour le maçon" to honor him.
The big protests in France in May 1968 inspired him to write "Paris Mai." This song was a message about life, but it was banned from being played on the radio. In the same year, he recorded his first live album at the Olympia, called Une soirée avec Claude Nougaro.
Continued Success and Challenges
Claude Nougaro's career continued with many successful songs. Some of his well-known hits include Le jazz et la java, Tu verras, Île de Ré, Armstrong, and Toulouse.
However, in 1984, his record company decided not to renew his contract. Nougaro then went to New York City to find new ideas. While there, he paid for and recorded his own album, Nougayork. This album became a huge success, which surprised many people. In 1988, he won awards for "best album" and "best artist" at the Victoires de la musique (a French music award show). Between 1993 and 1997, he released three more new albums.
Later Years
After 1995, Claude Nougaro's health began to decline. He had heart surgery that year. In 2003, he was too unwell to perform at a festival in Toulouse. From 1998 to 2004, he focused more on concerts and festivals. He also released an album to help children suffering from AIDS. After another surgery in early 2004, he sadly passed away from cancer in March, at the age of 74.
Discography
Studio albums
- 1958 : Claude Nougaro (President album)
- 1962 : Claude Nougaro
- 1964 : Claude Nougaro n°2
- 1966 : Bidonville
- 1967 : Petit taureau
- 1971 : Sœur âme
- 1973 : Locomotive d'or
- 1974 : Récréation
- 1975 : Femmes et famines
- 1976 : Plume d'ange
- 1978 : Tu verras
- 1980 : Assez !
- 1981 : Chansons nettes
- 1983 : Ami-chemin
- 1985 : Bleu blanc blues
- 1987 : Nougayork
- 1989 : Pacifique
- 1993 : Chansongs
- 1997 : L'Enfant phare
- 2000 : Embarquement immédiat
Live albums
- 1969 : Une soirée avec Claude Nougaro (L'Olympia, 2LP)
- 1977 : Nougaro 77 (L'Olympia, 2LP)
- 1979 : Nougaro 79
- 1982 : Au New Morning
- 1989 : Zénith made in Nougaro
- 1991 : Une voix dix doigts (2CD)
- 1995 : The best de scène (2CD)
- 1999 : Hombre et lumière (recorded in Toulouse, 2CD)
- 2002 : Au Théâtre des Champs-Elysées (2CD)
Posthumous releases
- 2004 : La Note bleue
- 2008 : Claude Nougaro (album Président)
Writings
- L'ivre de mots (2002)
- Fables de ma fontaine (2003)
See also
In Spanish: Claude Nougaro para niños
