The dark side of Claude Francois. Biographies, stories, facts, photos Claude Francois biography children
Forced to leave, the family experienced the return to France as a rough break from their roots. She settles in Monte Carlo in a modest apartment. Eme is stricken with illness and unable to work. Gradually, his son takes the place of the head of the family.
After being behind a bank counter as an employee, Claude Francois begins to dream of success. With an enterprising and industrious nature, he began to look for work in the orchestras of large Monegasque hotels.
Very early, his parents sent him to learn to play the violin and piano. He himself is interested in the world of percussion instruments. This rhythm gave him the first opportunity to express himself.
So, in 1957 he was invited to the orchestra of Louis Frosio, who performed at the International Sports Club. His father looks askance at Claude's hit in art world, and from that day the quarrel between them settled forever.
Decided in the decision, Claude, despite the small salary, insists on this path. The director does not want to let him sing - so much the worse for them, he is going to leave for another place, more precisely - to the Provencal hotel Juan-les-Pins. Already more self-confident, he begins to become famous in the night cafes of the region. One day in 1959, he meets the one who will become his wife a year later, an English dancer named Janet Woolkut.
Ambitious and determined to succeed in life, Claude Francois decides to move to Paris. At the end of 1961 he leaves with his wife, family and luggage for the capital.
The beginning of the 60s was an era of great upheaval for the French stage. The time of "Hello, friends", the famous radio program, the French translation of famous American hits, twists and other yeh-yes, has begun.
Claude Francois joins the orchestra of Olivier Depax "Les Gamblers". But the position remains precarious. Finding a job is not the most important thing, he always wants to be successful. He soon releases a forty-five record at the Fountain, entitled "Nabout twist" (a kind of oriental twist) under the name Koko. This first disc was a failure.
Aimé François died in March 1962, before he could hear his son's first big success, released a few months later. Belles Belles Belles, French translation of Everly Brothers song.
"Started" by the program "Hello friends", Claude François starts real career singer. Taken under the tutelage of Paul Lederman, already an established impresario, Claude Francois began to appear on the records of his colleagues. Having gone on a trip in 1963 with "Chossette Noir" (performing in the first part of their concert), little by little this super-energetic young man makes himself recognized on stage as a rising star. Several songs rise to the top of the charts during this year, for example, "Marche tout droit" or "dis lui". The number of fans is constantly increasing: his image young man from a good family, his lacquered blond hair and his unoriginal words are a way to attract a female audience. Another hit comes out in October "Si j" avais un marteau, translation of "If I had a hammer" by Trini Lopez.
Claude François works hard and uses songs translated from English, although they nevertheless leave unfading memories ( "Petite meche de cheveux" or "Je veux tenir ta main"). So, success finally came, and the singer gets more and more more money. In 1964 he was offered to buy a former mill in a village in Dannemoy, Ile-de-France. A few weeks later the public hears "La ferme du bonheur". This is also the year of his first trip as a star with "Les Gams", a group singing for the most part yeh, "Les Lionceaux" and Jacques Monty. This was not particularly pleasant, as the singer showed himself to be quarrelsome, even unapologetic and obnoxious with his employees. In September of the same year, the first performance took place at the Olympia in Paris. This evening Claude Francois sings "J" y pense et puis j "oublie", a nostalgic song that became the reason for the divorce from his wife.
In 1965, the singer recorded about fifteen songs, from "Les choses de la maison" before "Même si tu revenais". He makes "Musicorama", a radio broadcast recorded directly at the "Olympia" in October. This is a triumph. He continues by recording and filming a version of Cinderella for television. The year 1966 is marked by the creation of "Clodettes" with four assistant dancers. The summer trip, even more frantic, is marked by scenes of collective fan hysteria. At the end of the year, he again rises to the stage of Olympia, once again achieving a triumph.
After a short idyll with France Gall, he meets Isabelle, who will soon become the mother of his children. 1967 will prove decisive. Indeed, Claude François is ending his contract with Philips and is considering setting up his own business. This is what was done with "Disk Flash". He becomes artistically independent and master of himself, a real businessman. The new label was inaugurated in 1968 with the song "Jacques a dit". He continues with the translation of "Bee Gees" "La plus belle des choses". On the same disc, a song is presented that will become a world hit. Written in collaboration with Jacques Revo (music) and Gilles Thibaut (lyrics), "Comme d'habitude" is actually a symbol of the singer's break with France Gall. Translated into English by Paul Anka, "My way" will be sung by the likes of Sinatra and Elvis Presley.
In July of that year, Isabelle gives birth to Claude the Younger, quickly nicknamed Coco. But Claude François does not flaunt his privacy, he wants to keep his fans and not disappoint them. He continues to travel - to Italy, then to Africa, from Chad to Gabon, passing through the Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire).
With the exception of the birth of Mark's son, the year 1969 is similar to the previous ones. Note that his performance at Olympia for 16 days at closed box offices again became a triumph. The spectacle looks like a real American show, four dancers, eight musicians and large orchestra Olympia, all on a hell of a beat. On the next year Planned trip to Canada. But in Marseille, for the first time, he falls right on the stage. Undoubtedly, overwork is at the heart of this disease. He leaves for the Canary Islands to rest. Returning, he becomes a victim of a car accident. Having barely recovered (his nose was broken and his face was broken), the tireless Claude Francois again sets off on a trip with Dani and Si Jerome. At the end of the year, he buys out "Podium", a magazine for young people, which will soon be supplanted by its rival, the famous "Hi Friends". In 1972, as a real connoisseur of black American music, he leaves to record a song "C"est la meme chanson" in the USA, to Detroit, to the Tamla Motown studio. But his activities are now diversified. He produces Disc Flash, he produces artists such as Patrick Topaloff and Alain Chamfort.
Always on the lookout for new talent, he is hiring young composer, Patrick Juvet to write "Le lundi au soleil", a real success in 1972, for which Claude Francois and the "Clodettes" perform choreographic exercises based on small, uneven steps and arm swings. This choreography will become so famous that it will be taught in school!
On the other hand, he decides not to compete at the Olympia and goes on a "tour" around Paris with a 4,000-seat big top. At the end of the year, he is taxed and forced to pay 2 million francs to the state. In 1973 he performed "Je viens dîoner ce soir", Chanson populaire and mainly "Ça s"en va et ça revient", songs that in turn become real hits. However, rock seems to have taken up arms against the singer. In June 1973, the Dannemoy mill was destroyed by fire. In July, during a concert in Marseille in front of 10,000 people, an overzealous fan stabs him in the head, resulting in a black eye.
The next year is going a little better. "Le mal-aime" brings misfortune, but quickly becomes a mega hit, "Le telephone pleure" sold two million copies. Things are going well, and Claude Francois invests in the modeling agency "Girls Models". Everyone knows the singer's attraction to young girls, which prompted him to buy out the Absolute fashion magazine last year. He even occasionally turned into a photographer!
Building his career with a frenzy, Claude François maintains his success, although in the mid-70s everything does not go as we would like. Concerts always attract an impressive number of spectators, confident in the frenetic show they will be participating in. So, on July 1, 1974, he gathers 20,000 spectators at the Pantin Gate in Paris for the "Snowdrop", a society for helping disabled children, headed by one of his friends, Lino Ventura. The following year, journalist Yves Mourousi organizes a Claude François concert to benefit a medical research center in front of a very large audience at the Tuileries in Paris. This will be the last concert of the singer in the capital.
Between the recordings of new discs, which often take place in a tense atmosphere (the singer is very demanding), there are trips, including to the Antilles in April 1976 and to Africa at the end of the year, love stories with the Finnish girl Sofia or Catalina (his last girlfriend), his TV shows, continuous travel, Claude Francois lives at an alarming rate. And sometimes it's like a nightmare: in 1975 he was the victim of an Irish Republican Army bombing in London (he escaped with a burst eardrum), in 1977 he was shot from somewhere above when he was driving alone.
Although he repeated over the years that he had to sing songs in one genre to satisfy the audience, Claude François knew how to adapt in any way to fashion, as long as it suited his person. In 1977, disco music is at its peak. He is lifted by this wave from "Magnolias for Ever" and mainly in 1978 with "Alexandrie Alexandra" written by Étienne Roda-Gile, regular contributor to Julien Clair.
March 11, 1978 all of France learns that Claude Francois died from an electric shock in his Parisian house, trying to fix a light bulb without getting out of the bath. The sudden death of an idol plunges the audience into a state of deep chagrin, which sometimes turns into hysteria. The singer then became a legend.
Pushed by a devastating need to succeed, despite his appearance and voice, which he himself scolded, Claude François was able to hold on to the pinnacle of his art for nearly twenty years. His entrepreneurial spirit, as well as his undeniable flair, were the driving force behind this extraordinary career that made him the owner of the "pop song" label. On March 11, 2000, Place Claude-Francois is inaugurated to the sound of fanfare where his Parisian home was.
In the life of Claude Francois, there were enough black days, but until his death, Cloclo remained incredibly energetic and active. He became famous all over Europe both thanks to his ability to create remakes of other people's hits, and thanks to his own masterpieces.
Claude Antoine Marie François, also known by the pseudonym "Claude" (Claude Antoine Marie François or Cloclo) is a French singer, songwriter and dancer.
Claude Francois was born in Ismailia, Egypt (Ismaïlia, Egypt); his father, Frenchman Aimé François, worked on the Suez Canal. Compound
The boy owed his name to several factors at once. The mother wished to name the boy Claude; the father in the family had a tradition of naming boys with names starting with the letter A, but in this case, Francois Sr. had to be content with the middle name. The name "Marie" was a reference to the Virgin Mary and was supposed to protect the boy. love
Claude owed music primarily to his mother; she herself loved music very, very much, and it was with her filing that the boy began to take violin and piano lessons. Later, Francois also learned to play the drums.
After the Suez crisis of 1956, the family had to return to Monaco; François Sr. began to have health problems
I eat, and he could no longer work, which seriously affected the financial situation of the family. The sharp contrast between the rich life in Egypt and the disastrous life in Monaco had a great influence on Claude.
Young Francois managed to get a job as a bank clerk; at night he made a living playing drums with an orchestra in the luxury hotels of France.
which Riviera. The young man's voice was not bad, but untrained; nevertheless, after a while, Claude was offered to sing in one of the hotels in the luxurious Mediterranean resort of Juan-les-Pins. François' introduction was warmly received; soon he began to be invited to luxurious nightclubs. It was while working in
club François met the English dancer Janet Woollacott (Janet Woollacott); in 1960 they got married. Alas, father new career son did not approve categorically; this was a big blow for Claude.
Over time, Francois moved to Paris - much more promising for a man of his profession. At that time in France, the success of the field
was called American rock and roll; Claude quickly understood this and joined the vocal troupe. It was not immediately possible to start performing solo, but Francois did not lose faith in himself and continued to record. The first success awaited him with the release of the composition "Belles Belles Belles"; she made Claude a star literally overnight.
François's affairs went to th
y; in 1963, he released a couple more hits, "Si j" avais un marteau "and" Marche Tout Droit ". Claude was especially lucky with French variations on American songs. François's success was partly due to his talent, partly to incredible hard work and perseverance. Claude quickly calculated the most popular destinations in music and extract
whether of them all he could. Do not think that Francois was only engaged in copying other people's creations; He also knew how to create his own masterpieces.
In total, during his career (and after his death), François has sold about 70 million records. Diligence did not leave Claude further; he toured Europe, Africa and Canada almost non-stop.
newcomer. In 1971, he set himself so hard worker the schedule that during one of the performances simply collapsed from exhaustion. Subsequently, François was forced to take a short vacation; later, however, he returned and again set to work with his former energy.
In Europe, the singer was known very, very well, but the plans for rest
The vision of the American stage was not destined to come true - the sudden death of the singer prevented. Claude François died incredibly absurdly; it happened on March 11, 1978. The singer has just returned from Switzerland; while taking a shower, he noticed that the lamp on the wall was hanging unevenly. François tried to correct him - and was electrocuted on the spot
Biography
Claude Francois became famous not only for his outstanding vocal abilities, but also for his talent as a showman: bright shiny costumes, dance numbers with “Claudette” girls, unusual scenery characterized each of his performances. 
Doom
He was buried on March 15 in the cemetery of the commune of Dannemoy (Essonne department, Ile de France region), where he had his own house and where he liked to come to rest and gain strength. On the day of the singer's funeral, his single "Alexandrie Alexandra" was released (the singer chose the release date himself, a few days before his death).
Memory
Some famous songs
- "Même Si Tu Revenais" ( "Even if you come back") ();
- Notable for the first time performed by Claude Francois is the song “ Comme d "habitude» (« As usual"") (1967) (music: Jacques Revo, Claude Francois; the words: Gilles Thibaut), which became more widely known in the English version under the name "My Way" ( "My way") (author of the English version of the text Paul Anka, performer Frank Sinatra);
- Until now, the song of Claude Francois is very popular "Alexandrie Alexandra"(1977, release - March 1978) (lyrics: Etienne Roda Gil; music: Claude Francois and J.P. Bourtayre).
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An excerpt characterizing François, Claude
- Well, I'll break your face, don't joke! - Anatole suddenly shouted, rolling his eyes.“What a joke,” said the coachman, laughing. “Will I be sorry for my masters? What urine will ride horses, then we will go.
- BUT! Anatole said. - Well, sit down.
- Well, sit down! Dolokhov said.
- I'll wait, Fyodor Ivanovich.
“Sit down, lie, drink,” Anatole said and poured him a large glass of Madeira. The coachman's eyes lit up with wine. Refusing for the sake of decency, he drank and dried himself with a red silk handkerchief that lay in his cap.
- Well, when to go then, Your Excellency?
- Yes, here ... (Anatole looked at his watch) now and go. Look, Balaga. BUT? Are you up to speed?
- Yes, how is the departure - will he be happy, otherwise why not be in time? Balaga said. - Delivered to Tver, at seven o'clock they kept up. Do you remember, Your Excellency.
“You know, I once went from Tver to Christmas,” Anatole said with a smile of recollection, turning to Makarin, who looked with tender eyes at Kuragin. - Do you believe, Makarka, that it was breathtaking how we flew. We drove into the convoy, jumped over two carts. BUT?
- There were horses! Balaga continued. “Then I banned the young slaves to kaury,” he turned to Dolokhov, “do you believe it, Fyodor Ivanovich, the animals flew 60 miles away; you can’t hold it, your hands were stiff, it was cold. He threw the reins, hold, they say, Your Excellency, himself, and so he fell into the sleigh. So after all, not only to drive, you can’t keep to the place. At three o'clock they told the devil. Only the left one died.
Anatole left the room and a few minutes later returned in a fur coat girded with a silver belt and a sable hat, smartly put on the hips and very much going to him. beautiful face. After looking in the mirror and in the same position that he took in front of the mirror, standing in front of Dolokhov, he took a glass of wine.
“Well, Fedya, goodbye, thanks for everything, goodbye,” said Anatole. - Well, comrades, friends ... he thought ... - youth ... my, goodbye, - he turned to Makarin and others.
Despite the fact that they all rode with him, Anatole apparently wanted to do something touching and solemn from this appeal to his comrades. He spoke in a slow, loud voice and wiggled his chest with one leg. – Everyone take glasses; and you, Balaga. Well, comrades, friends of my youth, we drank, we lived, we drank. BUT? Now, when shall we meet? I will go abroad. Live, farewell, guys. For health! Hurrah! .. - he said, drank his glass and slammed it on the ground.
“Be healthy,” said Balaga, also drinking his glass and wiping himself with a handkerchief. Makarin hugged Anatole with tears in his eyes. “Oh, prince, how sad it is for me to part with you,” he said.
- Go, go! Anatole shouted.
Balaga was about to leave the room.
“No, stop,” said Anatole. “Shut the door, get in.” Like this. The doors were closed and everyone sat down.
- Well, now march, guys! - said Anatole, getting up.
The footman Joseph gave Anatole a bag and a saber, and everyone went out into the hall.
- Where's the coat? Dolokhov said. - Hey, Ignatka! Go to Matryona Matveevna, ask for a fur coat, a sable coat. I heard how they were being taken away,” Dolokhov said with a wink. - After all, she will jump out neither alive nor dead, in what she sat at home; you hesitate a little, then there are tears, and father, and mother, and now she is cold and back, - and you immediately take it into a fur coat and carry it to the sleigh.
The footman brought a woman's fox coat.
- Fool, I told you sable. Hey, Matryoshka, sable! he shouted so that his voice could be heard far across the rooms.
A beautiful, thin and pale gypsy woman, with shiny, black eyes and black, curly bluish tint hair, in a red shawl, ran out with a sable coat on her hand.
“Well, I’m not sorry, you take it,” she said, apparently shy in front of her master and pitying the coat.
“Live from OLYMPIA!”
Only the best songs performed
the inimitable Claude François!”
French radio listeners first heard this name in the early 60s of the last century. Since then, you can always find on the air of radio waves some radio station that broadcasts a song "Comme d'habitude" , which means "as usual" in French.
On February 1, 1939, in Ismailia in the north-east of Egypt, the son of Claude was born in the family of the ship's dispatcher Aimé Francois. In a cozy house on the shores of the Red Sea, Claude and his sister Josette spent their happy, serene childhood. Claude's father was far from the world of music and never approved of his son's passion for music. But her mother, Lucia, was very musical. When Claude was still a child, she taught him the violin and piano. At the same time, in childhood, a hobby arose percussion instruments. Exactly these music lessons with his mother will be a precious experience that will lead Claude Francois into the world of show business.
In 1956, the Suez Canal was nationalized, and the family was forced to move to Monte Carlo. The usual measured life is a thing of the past. My father never came to terms with this forced move. Soon he became very ill and could no longer work. Claude was responsible for financial well-being family, so he got a job as a bank clerk. There was not a day that Claude did not dream of leaving the bank and starting to make music. After labor day at the bank, he went in search of work in orchestras playing for hotel guests in Monaco.
Claude was ambitious and enterprising, had a good musical education, so he was eventually accepted into the orchestra by Louis Frosio. Claude was happy, although he did not receive any approval or support from his father. Aime was determined and did not want to accept the fact that his son chose a "frivolous" profession. Claude tried in vain to persuade his father. After another quarrel they stopped communicating until the death of Aime.
The first "success" of Claude Francois
Not finding support from his father, receiving a meager salary, Claude nevertheless was determined. He worked hard building musical career, and was always sure that in the future his name would become loud in the world of music.
Claude Francois dreamed of singing and tried to get an audition. After some time, he was auditioned at the Provencal Hotel in the luxurious Mediterranean resort of Juan-les-Pins. The management was fascinated by his sonorous voice and sentimental songs. He was allowed to sing. And always a neat well-groomed appearance, blond hair with impeccable styling and the image of a young man from a good family helped to find mutual understanding with the audience. For the first time, fame comes to Claude, and the number of his fans is steadily growing every day.
Claude is attracted by world fame, but for starters, the singer decided to conquer Paris. At the end of 1961, together with his family, he moved to the capital. At this time in music world big changes were taking place - American rock and roll burst into French pop music. Twist and jive were at the height of their popularity, and a rock and roll-based Ye-Ye style was formed. The program “Hi, friends” became a cult among young people, where they performed on French famous world hits, twists and other works of new styles. The young singer was going to find his niche in this environment.
Ambitious Claude understands Solo career- the only way to glory. He had a kind of talent to feel where to direct forces. Nevertheless, the first disc “Nabout twist”, recorded in 1962 under the pseudonym Koko, became a resounding failure!
With no doubt
Starting point dizzying career Claude Francois becomes a song "Belles belles belles" . His father never believed in the success of his son, and it just so happened that Aime did not live to see this success. He died a few months before the release of his son's first hit. When Claude Francois's song sounded in the program Hello Friends, everyone was forced to recognize him as a rising star.
"Belles belles belles" - a cover of the Everly Brothers' French "Made To Love" - topped the charts in the summer of 1962. Under the impresario Paul Lederman, Claude began a real career as a singer. The first time he releases songs on records more than famous singers and travels as a "warming up" tour with "Le Chaussette Noir". But super-energetic and with a violent temperament, Claude outshines the others. Reports emerged of a new superstar, and the name of Claude Francois rang on the French stage.
He records hits one after another. Surprisingly, most of his songs are re-hashings of English hits in French. It would seem that he did nothing extraordinary, but the English hits he covered left an unforgettable mark on the musical world of the 60s.
In pursuit of glory
In September 1964, Claude performed for the first time at the famous Parisian Olympia. This concert was a resounding success. The song was particularly emotional. "J'y pense et puis j'oublie"
, written and performed under the influence of the emotions associated with the breakup with Janet.
Several new hits were released in 1965, including "Les choses de la maison" and "Meme si tu revenais" .
In 1966 he creates dance group Les Claudettes of the four girls who danced in the background during his own performances. The idea to create "Les Claudettes" arose long ago, in January 1965, during a trip to Las Vegas. American shows made an indelible impression on him, and he decided to build something of his own on the same principle.
Where no matter how Claude Francois directs his creative energy, triumph awaits him everywhere. During the tour in the summer of 1966 at his concerts, mass hysteria of female fans was observed, fainting from an excess of emotions. At the end of the same year, another performance took place in Olympia, where incredible success awaited him again.
When his contract with Philips ended, Claude, inspired by his successes, decides to organize his own enterprise. Thus, he creates his own label "Disk Flash". Now he belongs to himself, everything is only in his hands, he is completely independent. Claude Francois' recipe for success is to re-record famous English and American hits in French.
But one song recorded by Claude was originally French. "Comme d'habitude" became a hit on the French market. When Canadian Paul Ankh translated it into English and Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley performed it, legendary hit "My way" has gained worldwide fame.
All the women of Claude
In 1959, Claude met a dancer Jeannette Woolcoot who became his wife a year later. Jeannette was his only official wife. After moving to Paris, the relationship of the spouses went wrong, and Jeannette left Claude.
He tried not to advertise his personal life However, in 1967, information appeared in the press about his love affair with the famous French singer France Gall. France Gal - this is Claude's mature, serious hobby, a great passion, surrounded by no less great pain. He idolized her, but began to take up too much space in her life, tried to participate in everything, interfered in her work, dictated with whom to cooperate and not cooperate, was against her participation in Eurovision. France could not stand it and left.
Claude was shocked. It was under the impression of such strong emotions and feelings from parting with Gal that the world-famous "My way" or "Comme d'habitude" .
Later, the singer met a girl named Isabelle Foret who will become the mother of his sons.Isabelle Le Foret was young, but probably the wisest of all Claude's women. She understood that in the first place she always was, is and will always be only a song, and one can not even dream of being in the first place one day. But even realizing this and giving Claude two children, she could not stand his strong and tough character.
Her place was taken Sofia - Finnish fashion model. It is believed that she was too similar in character to Claude, which is why their relationship was doomed.
Catalina Jones - his last love. Catalina knew how not to notice Claude's admirers, who were always and everywhere near the singer. She became for him best friend, support and support. They planned to get married, they were going to have children. But fate did not give them the opportunity to carry out these plans, or even abandon them ...
Life at a frightening pace
Creative individuality and enterprising nature, bright personality and undeniable charm helped Claude François in his dizzying successful career. 1969 Olympia again. 16 concerts. And on each - a full house. The audience is in ecstasy from a bright, live show in american style. Tour of Canada in 1970. Again a huge success. But how long could this go on?
During a concert in Marseille on March 14, 1970, Claude falls right on the stage. The heart attack was the result of a frantic pace of life and elementary fatigue. His manager insists on stopping such a crazy pace of work. Claude goes to the Canary Islands. He returns full of energy and ready to immediately plunge into work. But misfortune begins to haunt him. He gets into a serious car accident. In June 1973, a large part of the Dannemoy estate was damaged by a fire, the cause of which was never found out. During a concert in Marseille in July of that year, a zealous fan strikes him on the head, leaving, however, only a black eye.
In 1975, in London, Claude François was injured in a bombing by the Irish Republican Army, and his eardrum burst. In 1977, he was shot while driving. He didn't die, he didn't even get hurt. However, he didn't have long to live. As they say, there can be no seven deaths, one cannot be avoided.
Famous productions of "Les Claudettes"
Meanwhile, the active Claude Francois is engaged in one project after another with incredible zeal. At the end of 1971, he buys out the Podium magazine for teenagers, invests money in the Girls Models modeling agency. Engaged in producing Patrick Topaloff and Alain Chamfort, who signed a contract with his Disk Flash.
In 1972, especially for the incredibly popular hit "Le lundi au soleil"
Claude François and the Claudettes come up with an extremely interesting dance performance. This choreographic technique will acquire such resounding success that it will be taught all over France!
At the end of the same year, the singer goes on a mini-tour of Paris with a big top, which could be attended by 4,000 spectators at the same time.
Ridiculous accident
The indefatigable singer continued to return to the studio to record new songs. And almost every one of them became a new hit by Claude Francois, holding first place in the French charts for a long time. Enchanting performances of the singer enjoyed constant success. Claude was also involved in charity work. On July 1, 1974, it took place a charity concert at the Pantin gates in Paris, attended by 20,000 spectators, the proceeds of which went to a fund to help children with disabilities.
In 1975, another charity concert by Claude Francois was held in the Tuileries Garden in Paris, the funds from which were sent to the Scientific Medical Center.
Such a brilliant career ended unexpectedly and absurdly.
March 11, 1978 the singer returns from Switzerland. The next day, he should participate in Michel Drucker's "Sunday Meeting" ... "Sunday Meeting" with Claude Francois did not take place. Taking a bath, the singer noticed a lopsided light bulb. He always strived for perfection even in small things. This character trait caused a desire to correct this small defect ... The singer died as a result of an electric shock.
It was an unfathomable, incredible ending that was almost unbelievable. France was shocked and plunged into deep mourning, turning from time to time into hysteria. However, the sudden death of the idol, which was able to stay at the top of fame for almost twenty years, was mourned not only by France. Always so bright, charismatic, able to charm everyone and everywhere, radiating fantastic energy, full of strength and creative ideas, went to the peak creative career, reaching only 39 years old ...
Until now, about half a million discs are sold out every year. He became the king of French disco. An integral part of his success was diligence, enterprise and the pursuit of excellence. He was dissatisfied with his voice and his appearance, but drove millions of fans crazy.
The recording of new songs often took place in a rather tense, if not nervous, atmosphere. Claude was very demanding not only to himself, but also to others. He did not spare himself, and did not always spare others. He always strived for perfection. He wanted to be the first and the best in everything.
Parisian house of Claude, solemnly to the sound of fanfare opened
Place Claude Francois...
I have a lot of channels, but there is nothing to watch.
But yesterday I finally watched a decent movie. It is called "My Way" and its original name is "Cloclo".
Cloclo is a stage name French singer Claude François. This is the first time I hear about him, but my colleague, who likes to watch TV (but not foreign films), claims that in the 70s everyone knew this singer, and even some girls were in love with him. She immediately told me: “This handsome man? He also died so ridiculously in the bathroom while shaving with an electric razor. Such a tragedy!"
Indeed, from the film and from Wikipedia, I learned that Kloklo died when he tried to fix a faulty lamp while in the bathroom. This was in 1977.
And the future singer was born in Egypt. His grandfather also settled there. And Claude's father, Aime, worked as a ship traffic controller on the Suez Canal. It was a solid position. She was supposed to have a magnificent villa, domestic servants, luxurious life. Aimé François, by virtue of her position in society, leads a life full of prosperity, being a frequenter of secular parties, and revolves in high society. Eme married an Italian. From this marriage, Claude was born. He studied music, began to record the first songs, but in 1956 the Suez Canal was nationalized, and Claude's family had to return to France.
Claude's father became depressed because of this. Claude had to feed the family, but his father did not like show business, they quarreled.
Aimé François died in 1961, just over a year before his son's first success, the song "Belles, belles, belles", which made him famous throughout France.
Cloclo released records that were successful or not, performed in the Parisian suburbs and at the legendary Olympia. He lived in a mill, which he turned into a fashion house. He came up with the Podium magazine for young people, the Absolut erotic magazine, a modeling agency, and his own perfumes. All these projects have introduced him to high expenses. Cloclo was heavily in debt.
But he turned failures into songs. So in again success brought him the song "Unloved", which told about those who do not love him.
His performances on stage were like performances. 
After Cloclo's death, they did not forget - one of the Parisian squares was named after him. There are always flowers in the cemetery near his grave, and films are made about him.
All this is shown in the film "Cloaklo" (2012). The title role was played by Jremy (Remy) Rainier. This actor played, for example, played in the Belgian films "Child", "Lie low in Bruges", "Criminal Lovers" - there he is very young (actor born in 1981).
Nice to see Good work, it's nice to see the art of reincarnation, when an actor gets used to the image, creates an image - today this is a rarity.
Make-up artists and costume designers did a very good job: if you start looking for photos of Cloclo himself on the Web, you will most likely stumble upon a frame from the movie - it turned out so similar.
Cloclo 
rainier 
But most importantly, a memorable controversial image. Kloklo from the film is a controversial figure. On the one hand, he is drawn to petty-bourgeois happiness: a cozy home, a beautiful wife, wonderful children. Home is the place where he relaxes, becomes himself. He likes to lie down by the pool, but at the same time he controls everything. For example, he cannot pass by a slightly unevenly hanging picture - it needs to be corrected. And he died from it.
On the other hand, the singer's life is devoted to his image, which he carefully considered. He must not appear anywhere, except at home and on the stage, without black glasses, he must not walk - he must run from the door to the car, as if someone is chasing him. He dyes himself blond, wears a page-type hairstyle.
On stage (and in public too) Klolo appears in bright, brilliant costumes, performs surrounded by equally bright dancers - “clodetiocs”, at the end of the concert takes off his shirt, exposes his torso and jumps into the arms of enthusiastic fans, and mainly female fans. .
Kloklo portrays a sex symbol, a careless reveler, but in fact, he is a very rational and prudent person. And at the same time, he is not too confident in himself. When his first wife left him and went to Gilbert Beko, he was very worried, and to his mother’s words that he was still handsome, he answered that he was small, bow-legged and his voice was like that of ducks.
The second wife, civil, gave birth to his sons, the weather. But for a long time he hid his second son. What for? One son - this may be an accident, but two - this is already a family man, not a sex symbol. This wife also left him.
Somehow he imitated a swoon on stage to attract the attention of chilled fans.
What was it real life? What is for the soul, and what is for the money? He doesn't seem to know it himself. All life is like a stage, like one performance.
