image of Gilbert Bécaud
Birthday: Oct 24, 1927
Place of Birth: Toulon, Var, France

Gilbert Bécaud

Gilbert Bécaud (24 October 1927 – 18 December 2001) was a French singer, composer, pianist and actor, known as "Monsieur 100,000 Volts" for his energetic performances. His best-known hits are "Nathalie" and "Et maintenant", a 1961 release that became an English language hit as "What Now My Love". He remained a popular artist for nearly fifty years, identifiable in his dark blue suits, with a white shirt and "lucky tie"; blue with white polka dots. When asked to explain his gift he said, "A flower doesn't understand botany." His favourite venue was the Paris Olympia under the management of Bruno Coquatrix. He debuted there in 1954 and headlined in 1955, attracting 6,000 on his first night, three times the capacity. On 13 November 1997, Bécaud was present for the re-opening of the venue after its reconstruction. Born François Gilbert Léopold Silly in Toulon, France, Bécaud learned to play the piano at a young age, and then went to the Conservatoire de Nice. In 1942, he left school to join the French Resistance during World War II. He began songwriting in 1948, after meeting Maurice Vidalin, who inspired him to write his early compositions. He began writing for Marie Bizet; Bizet, Bécaud and Vidalin became a successful trio, and their partnership lasted until 1950. In 1952, he married Monique Nicholas. They had three children. While touring with Jacques Pills as a pianist, Bécaud met Édith Piaf, Pills' wife at the time. He began singing at her suggestion in 1953, with "Mes Mains" and "Les Croix". His first performance came the year after. His hits in the later part of the decade included "La Corrida" (1956), "Le Jour où la Pluie Viendra" (1957), and "C'est Merveilleux L'amour" (1958). His first hit in the English-speaking world was Jane Morgan's cover version of "Le jour où la pluie viendra" (as "The Day the Rains Came", with English lyrics by Carl Sigman) in 1958. He began acting in the same period, starting with "Le Pays D'où Je Viens" (1956). In 1960, he won a Grand Prix du Disque and composed "L'enfant à L'étoile," a Christmas cantata. That same year, "Let It Be Me", an English version of his "Je t'appartiens", became a hit for the Everly Brothers, followed, over the years, by Bob Dylan, Nina Simone, Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, Jerry Butler, Sam & Dave and James Brown. In 1973 he married Kitty Saint-John, with whom he had two children. He died of cancer at the age of 74. In 1961, Bécaud wrote and recorded "Et Maintenant", one of the biggest selling singles in French history. Translated as "What Now My Love", the song became a hit by Shirley Bassey, Sonny & Cher, Elvis Presley, Judy Garland, Andy Williams, Herb Alpert and Frank Sinatra. In 1962, he completed his largest composition, the 2-act opera L'Opéra d'Aran, which was premiered at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées on 25 October 1962 (Georges Prêtre conductor). The plot of the opera takes place on the Aran Islands, off the west coast of Ireland, although Bécaud had never been to Ireland before. ... Source: Article "Gilbert Bécaud" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Filmography
Movie Cast Year
Les Enfoirés - Les Enfoirés en chœur de 1985 à aujourd'hui 2014
The Scarlet Bazaar Pianist (uncredited) 1947
Hitch-Hike le pilote d'Air France 1962
The Country I Come From Julien Barrère / Éric Perceval 1956
Paris Casino Jacques Marval 1957
L'Âge d'or de la pub Self (archive footage) 2023
Alexandra – die Legende einer Sängerin Self 1999
Ein Jahr voll Musik Self 1970
Croquemitoufle 1959
La TV des 70's : Quand Giscard était président Self (archive footage) 2022
And Now My Love Self 1974
38-24-36 Self 1963
A Free Man Henri Lefèvre 1973
Les Enfoirés 1995 - Les Enfoirés à l'Opéra-Comique 1995
Les Enfoirés, 15 ans d'Enfoirés 2005
Series Cast Year
Lieben Sie Show ? Self 1962
Numéro un Self 1975
Continental Showcase Self 1966
Le Grand Échiquier Self 1972
Victoires de la musique Self 1985
Le monde est à vous Self 1987
Klimbim Self 1973
Wetten, dass..? Self 1981
Musik ist Trumpf Self 1975
À bout portant Self 1968
The Ed Sullivan Show Self 1948
Archives secrètes Self (archive footage) 2021
A Kettle of Colour Self - Musician 1972
Musik aus Studio B Self 1961
Starparade Self 1968
Le Grand Échiquier Self - Main Guest 1972
Cadet Rousselle Self 1971
Auf los geht's los Self 1977
Der goldene Schuß Self 1964
Midi trente Self 1972
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche Self 1975
Show Palast Self 1999
Numéro un Self - Host 1975
Numéro un Self (sequence filmed) 1975
Numéro un Self (archive footage) 1975
Système 2 Self 1975
Champs-Elysées Self 1982
Midi Première Self 1975
Il était une fois Champs-Élysées Self (archive footage) 2022
Cinépanorama Self 1956
Fan School Self 1977
Die Drehscheibe Self 1964
Aktuelle Schaubude Self 1957
Téléthon Self 1987
Wünsch dir was Self 1969
Unsere kleine Show Self 1969
Wedden, dat..? Self 1986
De TV Show Self 1981
Das Sonntagskonzert Self 1969
Matin Bonheur Self 1987
Discorama Self 1959
Was bin ich? self 1955
30 millions d'amis Self 1976
The Danny Kaye Show Self 1963
Samedi soir Self 1971
Sacrée soirée self 1987
Kraft Music Hall Self 1958
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