Bécaud, Gilbert, 1927-2001

Gilbert Bécaud was a French singer, composer, pianist and actor born in Toulon, France. He learned to play the piano at a young age and attended the Conservatoire de Nice, then left school in 1942 to join the French Resistance during World War II. After the war he began songwriting and was part of the successful Bizet, Bécaud and Vidalin trio for a couple of years.

Bécaud began singing at the suggestion of France’s national chanteuse Édith Piaf, recording several hits. His first hit in the English-speaking world was Jane Morgan's cover version of "Le Jour où la Pluie Viendra". He began acting in the same period and in 1960 won a Grand Prix du Disque. He wrote and recorded "Et Maintenant", one of the biggest selling singles in French history. Translated as "What Now My Love", the song became a hit by Shirley Bassey, Sonny & Cher, Elvis Presley, Judy Garland, Andy Williams, Herb Alpert and Frank Sinatra. and the next year premiered his two-act opera at the Théâtre des Champs-Élisées, then recorded a string of pop-music hits.

In 1974 he was named Chevalier in the Legion d’honneur. In 1982, he recorded the duet "L'Amour est mort" with Québécoise singer Martine St. Clair, but the 1980s and 1990s saw a slowdown of Bécaud's activity. He died from lung cancer, aged 74 on his houseboat on the Seine. His song catalogue of some 450 songs is published by BMG Music Publishing.