Michel Delpech

Michel Delpech's introspective songs, sensitive arrangements, and world-weary yet archly sophisticated vocals virtually defined the French pop idiom during the 1970s. Born January 26, 1946, in the Paris suburb of Courbevoie, Jean-Michel Delpech drew his earliest influence from traditional French chansons like Charles Aznavour and Gilbert Bécaud. As a teen, he formed a small orchestra with a group of schoolmates, and at 17 signed with the Vogue label to cut his debut solo single, "Anatole." In 1964 Delpech began writing with composer Roland Vincent, inaugurating the most significant creative collaboration of his career. Later that same year, he starred in the musical comedy Copains-Clopants, which ran in Paris for six months before mounting a national tour. Delpech's signature number, "Chez Laurette," quickly emerged as an audience favorite. In 1965 he issued the song as a single, and it proved his point of entry into the French pop charts, quickly followed by the hit "Inventaire 66." After exiting Copains-clopants, Delpech toured in support of Leny Escudero before opening for Jacques Brel during the French pop giant's series of farewell concerts at Paris' famed L'Olympia. In 1967, he signed with impresario Johnny Stark, who installed Delpech as the opener on a Mireille Mathieu tour that spanned from the U.S. to the U.S.S.R. Months later Delpech vaulted to superstardom, claiming the Grand Prix du Disque and the Académie Charles-Cros Prize for the 1968 hit "Il y a des Jours où on Ferait Mieux de Rester au Lit." Subsequent smashes including 1969's "Wight Is Wight" (a celebration of the Isle of Wight rock festival) and "Paul Chantait Yesterday" (a tribute to the Beatles) followed, and in 1971 Delpech and Vincent teamed for the signature hit of the singer's career, the...