Joe Dassin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joe Dassin
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Joe Dassin in the 1960s
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Joseph Ira Dassin |
| Born | November 5, 1938 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
| Died | August 20, 1980 (aged 41) Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia |
| Genres | Chanson French pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, piano |
| Years active | 1964–1980 |
| Labels | |
Joseph Ira Dassin (November 5, 1938 – August 20, 1980), known as Joe Dassin, was a famous American-French singer, songwriter, and actor. He was very popular in France and other French-speaking countries. Joe also sang in many other languages, like German, Spanish, Italian, and Greek. During his 16-year career, he sold almost 25 million records around the world! His father was the well-known film director, Jules Dassin.
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Joe Dassin's Early Life
Joe Dassin was born in New York City, USA. His father, Jules Dassin, was a movie director, and his mother, Béatrice Launer, was a talented violinist. His family had roots in Ukraine.
When Joe was about 12 years old, his family moved to Europe. This happened because his father faced difficulties in Hollywood. Joe went to many different schools, including ones in Switzerland and France.
After finishing high school, he returned to the United States. He studied at the University of Michigan from 1957 to 1963. There, he earned degrees in Anthropology. Later, in 1966, his father married the Greek actress and activist Melina Mercouri, who became Joe's stepmother.
Joe Dassin's Music Career
After university, Joe moved to France. He worked for his father as a technician and also acted in some movies. In 1963, he met Maryse Massiéra in Paris, who would later become his wife.
On December 26, 1964, Joe Dassin signed a contract with CBS Records. This was a big deal because he was the first French-language singer to sign with an American record company!
By the early 1970s, Joe's songs were huge hits in France. He became incredibly popular there. He recorded songs not only in French and English but also in German, Spanish, Italian, and Greek. Some of his most famous songs include "Les Champs-Élysées" (1969), "Salut les amoureux" (1973), "L'Été indien" (1975), "Et si tu n'existais pas" (1975), and "À toi" (1976).
Joe Dassin in Movies
Joe Dassin also appeared in several movies. Here are some of them:
- 1957: Benos in He Who Must Die, directed by Jules Dassin
- 1958: Nico in The Law, directed by Jules Dassin
- 1964: Joseph in Topkapi, directed by Jules Dassin
- 1965: A police inspector in Lady L, directed by Peter Ustinov
- 1965: Janos Adler in Nick Carter and Red Club, directed by Jean-Paul Savignac
Joe Dassin's Family Life
Joe Dassin married Maryse Massiéra in Paris on January 18, 1966. They had a son named Joshua, who was born early on September 12, 1973. Sadly, Joshua passed away five days later. This was a very difficult time for Joe and Maryse. They later divorced in 1977.
On January 14, 1978, Joe married Christine Delvaux. They had two sons: Jonathan, born on September 14, 1978, and Julien, born on March 22, 1980. Christine passed away in December 1995.
Joe Dassin's Passing
Joe Dassin passed away from a heart attack on August 20, 1980, while on vacation in Tahiti. He was 41 years old. He was having lunch with his family and friends at a restaurant in Papeete when he suddenly became unconscious. A doctor at the restaurant tried to help him, but Joe died there.
His body was brought back to the United States. He is buried in the Beth Olam section of Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, California.
Tributes to Joe Dassin
In 2020, many famous artists honored Joe Dassin's songs with a special tribute album called À toi, Joe Dassin. The album was very popular in France, Belgium, and Switzerland.
Some of the artists who sang Joe Dassin's songs on the album included Ycare, Axelle Red, Les Frangines, Trois Cafés Gourmands, Patrick Fiori, Kids United Nouvelle Génération, Madame Monsieur, and Camélia Jordana.
Discography
See also
In Spanish: Joe Dassin para niños
