Born on 28 April: Jacques Dutronc, never ending part of France's musical landscape

It was in a family of artists that Jacques Dutronc was born in April 1943. His father, an amateur pianist, gave him a taste for music and accompanied him to his piano and violin lessons.

It was during a long year of illness that the young boy discovered the guitar, already dreaming of a career like his idols.

In the midst of the yéyé period, he joined his first band, El Toro et les Cyclones, with whom he released his first singles. The group parted ways a few years later and Dutronc took a different path, though never far from his passion, as he became the artistic director of the label Vogue. It was there, somewhat by chance, while the record company was looking for its next star, that he seized the lyrics "Et moi et moi et moi" (written by Jacques Lanzmann) and made it the hit we know. "We could only find losers to sing it, so in the end they told me: go ahead, you do it, you've got the accountant's clothes, it fits the song perfectly," he confides in the book "Dutronc, une vie en chansons". It's 1966 and Jacques Dutronc's career is finally launched.

His first album is a collection of some of his greatest hits: "Les Cactus", "J’aime les filles", etc. The public sought him, loved his nonchalant insolence, and the singer toured extensively in France. In 1968, the cult song "Il est cinq heures, Paris s’éveille" was released, followed by "L’opportuniste", during May 1968.

In 1980, the man with dark glasses collaborated with Gainsbourg for his new album "Guerre et pets" (it took some daring!), which quickly went gold. Although his success experienced some quieter periods, each new release remained an event. The actor also tried, successfully, his hand at the big screen. He received the César Award for Best Actor in 1992 for his role in the film "Van Gogh". That same year, his return to the stage was announced with much publicity. A successful bet since he played to sold-out audiences for many weeks.

Jacques Dutronc is part of the French musical landscape, regardless of trends and the passing years. An aura and success he shares with two other big names. Under the name Vieilles canailles, Dutronc, Eddy Mitchell and Johnny Hallyday sold out venues during a tour in 2014.

He then performs with his son, Thomas (whom he had with François Hardy, his muse and partner for many years) in a major tour simply titled "Dutronc & Dutronc". An adventure which ends a bit too quickly for their fans when the singer decides not to fulfil the future dates. At 80 years old, after around forty concerts in a single year, Jacques Dutronc chooses the tranquility of his Corsican island, alongside his partner and their cats. Away from the hustle and bustle of Paris, which tirelessly awakens each morning around 5am...

(MH with Céline Massart - Photo: © Etienne Tordoir)

Photo: Jacques Dutronc with Dutronc & Dutronc on stage at Forest National in Brussels (Belgium) on 13 December 2022