Jean-Michel Delpech, known as Michel Delpech, was a French singer-songwriter and actor.
Career
In 1963, Delpech released his debut hit "Anatole" on Disques Vogue. In 1964, Delpech met Roland Vincent, and a long singing songwriting partnership ensued with Delpech being signed to Festival French record label. In 1965, he took part in the music comedy Copains Clopant that had a six-month run and made him very popular, particularly through his interpretation of "Chez Laurette". He was the opening act for Jacques Brel's goodbye concert at the Paris Olympia. In 1967, he collaborated with Johnny Stark. In 1968, he won the "Grand Prix du Disque" award for "Il y a des jours où on ferait mieux de rester au lit". Then he left Vogue to sign with Barclay Records. At the peak of his success, he recorded "Wight Is Wight" in tribute to the Isle of Wight Festival, a famous rock festival on the Isle of Wight that became his best known song. It sold over one million copies in Europe, and was awarded gold disc status. 'Pour Un Flirt' was a second smash hit. It charted in the French-speaking countries around the globe as well in the Netherlands, and a version in German brought him charts success in West Germany, Austria and Switzerland. An English translation, Flirt, made the Top 20 in the UK. The early 1970s brought separation from Johnny Stark for two years, and the end of the long collaboration with Roland Vincent, his first-ever writer. He had some new releases but with limited success. In the 1980s, he enjoyed a comeback and released the albumLoin d'ici. A compilation album followed in 1989. He continued releasing albums and making concerts. In December 2006, he released an album of duets Michel Delpech and that topped the French Albums Chart for one week. He also engaged on a French tour.
Personal life
In 1966, he met Chantal Simon whom he married. Later on the couple divorced, and Delpech suffered depression. He searched for relief in religions, mainly Buddhism and later the Catholic faith.
In the 1970s, there were also many rumours about attempted suicides, but he denied these rumours in a later biography.
In 1983, he met Geneviève Garnier-Fabre, a French artist and they married in 1985.
In 1990, he had a son, Emmanuel. He became a talented guitarist and joined his father in his concerts since 2007.
In 2007, Pascal Louvrier wrote a biography about him titled Michel Delpech - Mis à Nu published on Editions Perrin.
In 2011, he played the role of Françoit Gouriot in Beloved
In 2011, he was a guest of honor for the sixth season of Âge tendre et Têtes de bois broadcast in France, Belgium and Switzerland.
Death
Delpech had long been a heavy smoker, going through a pack of cigarettes daily starting at the age of 18 and quitting only after his diagnosis to throat cancer in 2013. He died at a hospital in Puteaux, France on 2 January 2016 at the age of 69.
Discography
Albums
1966: Inventaire 66
1969: Il y a des jours où on ferait mieux de rester au lit
