Gilbert Bécaud facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gilbert Bécaud
Bécaud in 1965
Born	François Gilbert Léopold Silly (1927-10-24)24 October 1927 Toulon, France
Died	18 December 2001(2001-12-18) (aged 74) Boulogne-Billancourt, France
Spouse(s)	Monique Nicholas (1952-?) Kitty Saint-John (1973-?)
Children	5
Musical career
Also known as	Monsieur 100,000 Volts
Genres	Contemporary music, jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician Composer Actor
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active	1948–2001

Gilbert Bécaud (born François Gilbert Léopold Silly) was a famous French singer, composer, pianist, and actor. He was known as "Monsieur 100,000 Volts" because of his very energetic performances. Some of his most famous songs are "Nathalie" and "Et maintenant." The song "Et maintenant" became a big hit in English as "What Now My Love."

Bécaud was popular for almost 50 years. You could always recognize him by his dark blue suits, white shirt, and a special "lucky tie" with blue and white polka dots. His favorite place to perform was the Paris Olympia concert hall. He first performed there in 1954 and was the main act in 1955. On his first night, 6,000 people came to see him, which was three times the usual number! He was also there for the re-opening of the venue in 1997 after it was rebuilt.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Gilbert Bécaud was born in Toulon, France, on October 24, 1927. He started learning to play the piano when he was very young. Later, he went to the Conservatoire de Nice, a music school.

In 1942, during World War II, he left school to join the French Resistance. This group secretly fought against the occupation of France.

Bécaud began writing songs in 1948. He met Maurice Vidalin, who encouraged him to write his first songs. He also started writing for a singer named Marie Bizet. Bizet, Bécaud, and Vidalin formed a successful musical group that worked together until 1950.

In 1952, Gilbert Bécaud married Monique Nicholas. They had three children together.

Becoming a Singer and Actor

While touring as a pianist for singer Jacques Pills, Bécaud met Édith Piaf. She was a very famous French singer and was married to Jacques Pills at the time. Édith Piaf suggested that Gilbert Bécaud should start singing himself.

He began singing in 1953 with songs like "Mes Mains" and "Les Croix." His first public performance as a singer was in 1954. In the late 1950s, he had many hits, including "La Corrida" (1956), "Le Jour où la Pluie Viendra" (1957), and "C'est Merveilleux L'amour" (1958).

His first song to become popular in English-speaking countries was "The Day the Rains Came." This was an English version of his song "Le jour où la pluie viendra," sung by Jane Morgan in 1958.

Bécaud also started acting around this time. His first movie was "Le Pays D'où Je Viens" in 1956. In 1960, he won an award called the Grand Prix du Disque. He also wrote a Christmas cantata (a type of musical piece) called "L'enfant à L'étoile."

That same year, his song "Je t'appartiens" became a huge hit in English as "Let It Be Me." Many famous artists later sang this song, including the Everly Brothers, Bob Dylan, Nina Simone, and Elvis Presley.

Career Highlights from the 1960s Onward

In 1961, Gilbert Bécaud wrote and recorded "Et Maintenant." This song became one of the biggest selling singles in French history. When translated as "What Now My Love," it became a hit for many singers like Shirley Bassey, Elvis Presley, and Frank Sinatra.

In 1962, he finished his biggest musical work, a two-act opera called L'Opéra d'Aran. It was first performed in Paris. The story of the opera takes place on the Aran Islands in Ireland, even though Bécaud had never visited Ireland before writing it.

After his opera, he toured Europe and continued to release many popular pop songs. He also worked with American singer Neil Diamond. Together, they co-wrote "Love on the Rocks," which was in the movie The Jazz Singer. They also wrote "September Morn" and other songs for that movie.

The famous actress Marlene Dietrich recorded his song "Marie, Marie" and performed it in her shows.

In 1964, Bécaud wrote the song "Nathalie" with lyrics by Pierre Delanoë. The song is about a female tour guide in Moscow. Bécaud visited Moscow in 1965.

Another one of his songs, "Seul sur son étoile," became "It Must Be Him." This was a hit for American singer Vikki Carr in 1967. The next year, his song "L'important c'est la rose" became "Importance of Your Love" for British singer Vince Hill.

In the 1970s, Bécaud focused more on touring than on recording new albums. He performed at the Golden Orpheus festival in Bulgaria in 1971. He also did some acting. In 1973, he took a break, saying he was tired.

In 1974, he was honored as a Knight in the Légion d'honneur, which is a very important French award. The next year, his song "A Little Love and Understanding" reached number 10 on the UK Singles Chart.

Later, he started writing songs with Pierre Grosz and then again with Neil Diamond. He also wrote a Broadway musical called Roza. In 1982, he recorded a duet called "L'Amour est mort" with Canadian singer Martine St. Clair.

Gilbert Bécaud's activity slowed down in the 1980s and 1990s. He released collections of his songs and toured sometimes.

He passed away on December 18, 2001, at the age of 74. He died on his houseboat on the Seine River in France. He was buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. Gilbert Bécaud wrote about 450 songs during his career.

His song "L'Orange" was used in a trailer for the movie Léon (also known as The Professional).

Notable Songs

Here are some of Gilbert Bécaud's most well-known songs and compositions:

1950s

• "Mes mains"
• "Les Croix"
• "Mé qué mé qué"
• "Je t'appartiens"
• "Les Marchés de Provence"
• "Le jour où la pluie viendra"
• "La Ballade des baladins"
• "Salut les copains"

1960s

• "Et maintenant"
• "(Âge tendre et) Tête de bois"
• "Dimanche à Orly"
• "Quand Jules est au violon"
• "Nathalie"
• "L'Orange"
• "Quand il est mort le poète"
• "L'important c'est la rose"
• "Je reviens te chercher"

1970s

• "C'est en septembre"
• "La Solitude ça n'existe pas"
• "L'Indifférence"
• "Un peu d'amour et d'amitié"

1980s

• "Désirée"
• "L'Amour est mort"
• "Faut faire avec"

Film Appearances

• 1953: Boum sur Paris as Himself
• 1956: The Country I Come From as Eric Perceval / Julien Barrère
• 1957: Casino de Paris as Jacques Merval
• 1959: Croquemitoufle as Bernard Villiers
• 1962: Girl on the Road as an Air France pilot
• 1973: Un homme libre as Henri Lefèvre
• 1974: Toute une vie as Himself
• 1995: Navarro as Sarkis (French TV series)

Images for kids

• 

  Bécaud in 1965

See also

In Spanish: Gilbert Bécaud para niños