Singer Claude Francois. Claude Francois - the legendary singer of France

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".
Cloclos is the stage name of the 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 relied on a magnificent villa, domestic servant, 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 a magazine for young people "Podium", an erotic magazine "Absolute", modeling agency, their spirits. All these projects have introduced him to high expenses. Cloclo was heavily in debt.
But he turned failures into songs. So in Once 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).
Glad 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 has been created. 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 the second son. For what? 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.

Biography

Fame Claude Francois brought not only outstanding vocal skills, but also the talent of 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; words: Gilles Thibault), 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.
- A! 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 hat.
- Well, when to go then, Your Excellency?
- Yes, here ... (Anatole looked at his watch) now and go. Look, Balaga. A? 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. A?
- 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. A? 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.

Claude Antoine Marie François, also known by the pseudonym "Claude" (Claude Antoine Marie François or Cloclo) - french singer, songwriter and dancer.

Claude Francois was born in Ismailia, Egypt (Ismaïlia, Egypt); his father, Frenchman Aimé François, worked on the Suez Canal. The boy owed his compound 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. Claude owed his love for 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, and he could no longer work, which seriously affected the financial situation of the family. The sharp contrast between rich life in Egypt and the disaster 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 luxurious hotels on the French 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 at the club that François met the English dancer Janet Woollacott; in 1960 they got married. Alas, the father did not categorically approve of his son's new career; 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, American rock and roll was a success in France; 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' affairs were going uphill; 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 extracted everything they could from them. 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. In 1971, he set himself such a tough work schedule that during one of his performances, he 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 to conquer the American stage were 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.

Claude Francois (1939-1978) - legendary french musician, author and performer. In the late 70s, he was recognized as the king of disco. Despite the fact that the singer has been dead for many years, his albums are still sold out in millions of copies. The musician was the owner of the Podium magazine for young people, and he also owned the Disk Flash label.

The secret of Claude's success lies in the incredible hard work, constant striving for excellence. He was not happy with his appearance and voice, but managed to acquire fans around the world. Stars such as Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Sid Vicious and Nina Hagen have repeatedly performed their versions of François' "My Way".

Serene childhood

The future singer was born on February 1, 1939 in Ismailia. This small city was located in the heart of Egypt, on the banks of the Suez Canal and Lake Timsah. It was a kind of island in the middle of the desert. The family lived there until 1951, when the father was transferred to the port of Taufik on the Red Sea.

Claude's father, Frenchman Aimé François, controlled the movement of numerous ships on the canal. He was a respected person in society, so the family lived richly. They had a luxurious villa, servants, parties for the elite were regularly held in the house. The mother of the future performer was Italian, her name was Lucia. It was thanks to her that Francois learned to play the violin and piano. Later, the young man independently mastered the drums.

Until 1956, Aime, Lucia, Claude and his sister Josette lived in Egypt, but they had to move to France after the nationalization of the Suez Canal. The family settled in a small apartment in Monte Carlo, shortly after that, the father fell ill. future star disco had to take on some of his obligations. From childhood he was an inquisitive and kind guy, his grandmother instilled in Francois tolerance and respect for other people.

The musician studied at a boarding house at the Catholic school of the de Plormel brothers. Despite strict discipline, the boy always found an opportunity to play pranks. He later recalled that he often did not get to bed in educational institution, played all night with peers. At the age of 15, Claude passed all the exams with excellent marks, receiving a certificate of completion. high school. After that, he entered the Cairo Lyceum. This life period was remembered by the young man thanks to listening to American and European records, he finally fell in love with music. François passed the first part of his bachelor's degree, but he never managed to complete his education due to the move.

sudden growing up

Due to his father's illness, Claude began working in two places at the same time. During the day he worked as a bank clerk, and at night he played drums in the orchestras of the Riviera. Once in Juan-les-Pins he was offered to sing at the Hotel Provence. A modest but charming young man did not yet realize the power of his voice, but he managed to win the attention of the audience.

After a successful debut, François moved to Paris at the end of 1961. There he received an invitation from the orchestra of Louis Frosio. In its composition, the musician performed at the International Sports Club. It is noteworthy that the father never supported the creative endeavors of his son. After another quarrel, they stopped communicating, did not have time to reconcile until the death of Aime. In March 1962, he died after a long illness, without seeing the success of his son.

Claude's first record was recorded with his own money, it was called "Nabout twist". The singer took the pseudonym "Coco" and released an album in 1962. He failed to conquer the public, the money was wasted. Nevertheless, the young man did not plan to give up. He wrote the song "Belles, belles, belles", it was she who took the top of all the charts.

It is noteworthy that the first famous song François was not the original, but a translation of "Made to love" by the Everly Brothers. The composition was first heard in the famous French program "Hello friends", after its appearance, Francois became a star. His constant companion was the impresario Paul Lederman. Also, the novice singer was helped by such famous people like Jerry Van Ruyen, Aimé Barelli and even Brigitte Bardot. The disc with the record "Belles, belles, belles" sold out very quickly, with a circulation of more than two million copies.

Dizzying career and early death

Even after recording successful song Francois did not immediately manage to become famous. At first, he performed as an opening act for his colleagues, published his compositions on their solo records. Once he went on tour with the Le Chaussette Noir team. Thanks to his endless supply of energy, the singer amazed the audience at the concert, he managed to attract attention music critics. The newspapers began to write about the appearance new star.

Claude was constantly working, he published new hits one after another. Almost all of his songs were translations, not originals, but the audience enthusiastically accepted these adaptations. The most popular compositions were "Marche tout droit" and "Dis-lui". Fans pursue the musician, they admire his luxurious hair, indefatigable energy and perky dances.

In 1964, the singer buys a plot of land in Dannemoy, in the Ile-de-France region. He equipped the house for a long time, and subsequently many famous hits were written there. Among them are "La ferme du bonheur", "Meme sit u revenals" and "Les choses de la mansion". In 1965, the radio program "Musicorama" was released, recorded in concert hall"Olympia". A year later, the musician creates dance group and calls her "Clodettes". This group consists of four girls, they constantly dance against the backdrop of the singer's performances.

Claude worked at a frantic pace, he constantly recorded songs, traveled around the world with concerts. Because of this, on March 14, 1970, the singer lost consciousness right on stage. Doctors diagnosed a heart attack due to overwork. François partially slows down, but already in June 1973 he gets into a car accident. A month later, he suffers a head injury after being hit by one of the fans. In 1975, the singer's eardrum was damaged during a bomb explosion, and in 1977 he was shot at.

François's life was bright and eventful, but it ended too soon. In March 1978, the singer tried to fix a light bulb without getting out of the bath. As a result, he received a severe electric shock and died on the spot. Eleventh March 2000 in memory of famous singer Place Claude-Francois was opened in Paris.

Rich personal life

In interviews, François often reported that he was "not liked." Perhaps that is why the man was constantly looking for new women, each life stage was marked by a meeting with another passion. The first love of the musician was the dancer Janet Vulkut, they even got married. They started their careers together, but soon the girl cheated on her beloved with Gilbert Beco. The official divorce took place on March 13, 1967. From that moment on, Claude stopped trusting women, he even treated his mother with prejudice. This is due to the fact that Lucia got carried away with age gambling, she asked for money even from passers-by on the streets. As a result, the son refused to pay her debts.

After the whole world recognized the singer thanks to the composition "Belles, belles, belles", he had one loyal fan - the young France Gall. The musician inspired the girl, later they began to perform together. France regularly attended idol concerts, watched him from behind the scenes, secretly ran away from her parents to her lover. She dreamed of getting married, but Claude was cold about this idea. He was extremely jealous beautiful girl repeatedly locked her alone in the apartment.

When Gall won Eurovision in Stockholm, all the accumulated negativity of Francois poured out against the girl. She called him to tell him about the victory, in response she heard only "You lost me." Frans cried during the replay of the song, she was hurt because of the breakup with the singer. Immediately after the performance, she flew to him, but the musician refused to open the door. An hour later, he deigned to talk to Gall, but the girl was no longer going to waste time on the envious and jealous Claude.

After parting, the performer was worried, he even dedicated the song "Comme d'habitude" to France. At the same time, he told the press that he could no longer love. But then the singer met the dancer Isabelle in Lyon. She was ready to sacrifice her future for the sake of her family, so soon the lovers began to live together. The girl gave birth to the musician two sons, Claude and Mark. Claude hid the second of them on the advice of the producers, passing him off as his nephew. The sons were even let out for a walk in turn, so that the neighbors would not suspect anything.

Fascinated by his career, Francois rarely saw his family. He forbade Isabelle to be with him in public, denied the existence of sons, and regularly cheated on his wife. Once he even gave her a suitcase for Christmas. But the musician finally decided to leave the family only after meeting with Sofia, a Finnish fashion model. He saw a photo of a girl on a billboard and was immediately fascinated by her. The lovers constantly quarreled, under pressure from Sophia, Claude introduced his sons to the public.

All his life, the singer was pursued by fans. He willingly communicated with them and even recruited his staff exclusively from fans. Of course, many of them had a chance to spend the night with a star, and so it was after his meeting with Sophia. The fans hated the new passion of their idol, and this was the reason for the break with the model. Later, she said that she had 3 abortions due to the carelessness of her lover.

“Dear radio listeners, the premiere of the musical show “MUSIKORAMA” is on the air! Live from OLYMPIA! Only best songs performed by the inimitable Claude François!”.
40 years ago, these call signs were first heard on French radio. 40 years ago, one of the most bright stars the Parisian scene. Claude François - amazing career and tragic fate. Claude Francois - a rapid rise and a ridiculous death. For some reason, everything happens in this way in life: a bright flame goes out suddenly.

Claude Francois was born on February 1, 1939 in Ismailia, Egypt. His father Aimé was a ship traffic controller on the Suez Canal. He moved to the Red Sea in 1951 with his Italian wife Lucy, daughter Josette and son Claude in Port Taufik. This family lived quietly until 1956, the date of the nationalization of the Suez Canal by Egyptian President Nasser.
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 is interested in the world 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 has begun for "Hello Friends", the famous radio show, remakes on French famous American hits, twists and other ye-ye.
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 hearing his son's first big hit "Belles Belles Belles", a French translation of an Everly Brothers song, released a few months later.
"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, such as "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. In October, another hit is released, "Si j" avais un marteau, a 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 mostly yeh-yeh band, "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" to "Meme 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. New label solemnly presented in 1968 with the song "Jacques a dit". He continues with the Bee Gees' translation of "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 Thibault (lyrics), "Comme d" habitude" is actually a symbol of the singer's break with France Gall. Translated into English by Paul Anca, "My way" will be sung by such giants as Sinatra or 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 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 the song "C" est la meme chanson "in the USA, in Detroit, at the Tamla Motown studio. But his activities are now diverse. He is engaged in the production of 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 hit in 1972, for which Claude François 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 dioner ce soir", "Chanson populaire" and mainly "Ca s" en va et ca revient", songs that in turn become real hits. However, rock seems to have taken up arms against the singer. June 1973 Dannemoy mill destroyed by fire In July, during a concert in Marseille in front of 10,000 spectators, one overzealous fan hits him on 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 Sophia or Catalina (his last girlfriend), his television shows, continuous trips, Claude Francois lives at a frightening pace. 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 picked up this wave with "Magnolias for ever" and mainly in 1978 with "Alexandrie Alexandra", written by Étienne Roda-Gile, Julien Clair's regular contributor.

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 almost twenty years. His entrepreneurial spirit, as well as undeniable flair, were driving force this extraordinary career that made him the owner of the "pop song" brand. March 11, 2000 Place Claude-Francois is inaugurated to the sound of fanfare where his Parisian home was