Michel Jonasz

Michel Jonasz gained popularity in the French music scene with a musical blend of jazz, R&B, and traditional songwriting, with a twist of nostalgia and a whiny edge. Many of his best known songs display intimate feelings (lost love, family and childhood memories) backed by gentle and groovy music material, and though his '70s and '80s works has inspired a lot of artists, he has always remained the shy and quiet type (at least when it comes to the media). When it comes to performing on-stage, though, he becomes a great entertainer in his own gentle way, delivering memorable sets to a faithful audience. Jonasz was born in Drancy (a town known for its sad World War II history) on January 21, 1947, in a Hungarian-Jewish family. Temporarily leaving aside his first artistic choice, acting, he set his mind on a music career. Influenced by famous Frenchmen Georges Brassens, Léo Ferré and Jacques Brel, as well as Ray Charles and Eddy Mitchell, he initially formed three bands, including "The King Set" under which name he released a first single, "Apesanteur," with the help of his friend Alain Goldstein. But Jonasz's solo career actually started in 1969, with the release of his single "Adieu la Terre." After two more singles, his first self-titled LP came out in 1974, a record which he had been asking for complete control of, but was assigned Jean-Claude Vannier as a musical coordinator. The record included two possible radio breakthroughs, "Supernana" (actually a Jean-Claude Vannier song) and "Dîtes Moi." 1975's second album, Changez Tout, displayed Pierre Grosz's lyrics and a more self-assured Jonasz taking full credit for the music, and included the first Jonasz-trademarked single, "Les Vacances Au Bord De La Mer." Touring France with major artists, Jonasz started to seduce a...