Gérard Jouannest | |
|---|---|
 Jouannest in 2011 | |
| Born | 2 May 1933
Vanves,
Hauts-de-Seine, France |
| Died | 16 May 2018 (aged 85)
Ramatuelle,
Var, France |
| Alma mater | Conservatoire de Paris |
| Occupation | Pianist |
| Spouse | |
Gérard Jouannest (2 May 1933 – 16 May 2018) was a French pianist and composer.
Early life
Jouannest was born on 2 May 1933 in Vanves near Paris. [1] [2] His father was a piano manufacturer. [1]
Jouannest graduated from the Conservatoire de Paris in 1954. [1] During the Algerian War, he served in the French Army, although he was based in Meknes, Morocco. [1]
Career
Jouannest began his career as a pianist in music halls. [1] He later worked as a pianist for François Rauber. [2] In 1959, he was introduced to Jacques Brel by music producer Jacques Canetti, and he worked for Brel for nearly a decade. [3] It was Brel who introduced Jouannest to his future wife, singer Juliette Gréco in 1968, and Jouannest played the piano for Greco during the rest of his career. [1] [4]
Jouannest composed more than 250 songs over the course of his life. [1] For example, he composed classic songs for Jacques Brel like " Ne me quitte pas", " Ces gens-là", "Bruxelles", " Mathilde" and " Les Vieux". [4] He also composed songs for younger artists like Miossec, Benjamin Biolay and Abd al Malik. [4] [2]
Personal life and death
In 1988, Jouannest married Juliette Gréco. [1] Jouannest supported Jean-Luc Mélenchon in the 2012 presidential election. [5]
Jouannest died on 16 May 2018 in Ramatuelle, in the South of France. [1] [4] He was 85. [4] [2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Lesprit, Bruno (17 May 2018). "Gérard Jouannest, pianiste et mélodiste de Jacques Brel et de Juliette Gréco, est mort". Le Monde. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
- ^ a b c d Horner, Olivier (17 May 2018). "Décès de Gérard Jouannest, pianiste de Jacques Brel et Juliette Gréco". Radio Télévision Suisse. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
- ^ "Gérard Jouannest, le pianiste aux doigts d'or de la chanson française". Le Point. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "Le pianiste virtuose de Jacques Brel, Gérard Jouannest, est mort". Le Parisien. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
- ^ "1.000 intellectuels derrière Jean-Luc Mélenchon". L'Humanité. 17 April 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
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