Lizzy Mercier Descloux facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lizzy Mercier Descloux
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Mercier Descloux in 1981
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Martine-Elisabeth Mercier Descloux |
| Born | 16 December 1956 Paris, France |
| Died | 20 April 2004 (aged 47) Saint-Florent, Corsica |
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| Years active | 1978–1999 |
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Lizzy Mercier Descloux (born Martine-Elisabeth Mercier Descloux on December 16, 1956 – died April 20, 2004) was a talented French artist. She was a musician, singer, songwriter, and also an actress, writer, and painter. She was known for her unique style that mixed different types of music.
Contents
Early Life and Creative Beginnings
Lizzy grew up in Lyon, France. When she was a teenager, she moved back to Paris to study art. In Paris, she met Michel Esteban. Together, they opened a store called Harry Cover. This store became a popular place for the new punk music scene in France.
They also started a music magazine called Rock News. This magazine focused on new wave music, which was a new style of rock music. In 1975, Lizzy visited New York City. There, she became friends with famous musicians like Patti Smith and Richard Hell. They even helped her with her first book, Desiderata. In 1977, Lizzy and Michel moved to New York. They met Michael Zilkha, and together they started a record label called ZE Records.
Musical Journey and Albums
Lizzy Mercier Descloux began her music career with guitarist D.J. Barnes. They formed a performance art duo called Rosa Yemen. In 1978, they recorded a mini-album for ZE Records. The next year, Lizzy released her first solo album, Press Color.
She taught herself to play the guitar. Her music was simple but had funky rhythms. Even though her first album didn't sell many copies, she toured in the USA and Europe.
Exploring New Sounds
Later, Chris Blackwell, who ran Island Records, helped Lizzy record her second album, Mambo Nassau. This album was made in the Bahamas. It was influenced by African music, as well as art rock, funk, and soul. While this album wasn't a big hit in the U.S., it helped her get a contract with CBS Records in France.
After returning to France, Lizzy released two singles. She then traveled through Africa. The music she heard in Soweto, South Africa, inspired her hit song "Mais où Sont Passées les Gazelles?" ("But where have the gazelles gone?"). This song was very popular in France in 1984. She also released the album Zulu Rock, which featured African influences.
Lizzy continued to make music with producer Adam Kidron. She recorded One for the Soul (1986) in Brazil with jazz trumpeter Chet Baker. She also recorded Suspense (1988) in London. Besides music, Lizzy also acted in films, wrote music for movies, and wrote poetry.
Later Life and Legacy
In the mid-1990s, Lizzy moved to Corsica, an island in France. There, she focused on painting and writing a novel.
In 2003, Lizzy was diagnosed with a serious illness. She passed away the following year, in 2004. Her friend and fellow musician Cristina dedicated a song to Lizzy on her album, remembering Lizzy's talent and kindness. After Lizzy's death, Michel Esteban worked with a record label to re-release some of her music. This helped new fans discover her unique and creative work.
Albums
- Rosa Yemen – Live in N.Y.C July 1978 (1978)
- Press Color (1979)
- Mambo Nassau (1981)
- Zulu Rock (1984)
- One for the Soul (1985)
- Suspense (1988)
