Jazz
Claude Lemesle - Liner Notes
Jean-Yves Billet - Concept, Realization
Olivier Saint Yves - Mastering
Sacha Distel
Active Decades: '60s, '70s and '90s
Born: Jan 29, 1933 in Paris, France
Died: Jul 22, 2004 in St. Tropez, France
Genre: Jazz
Styles: French Pop, French Folk
Sasha Distel was one of the top jazz guitarists and chanson singers in France. A prolific recording artist, Distel recorded more than two hundred tunes including his biggest hit, "Scoubidou", in 1958. In addition to appearing in several French films, Distel became of France's most popular television actors.
Distel inherited his love of music from his mother, who played piano, and an uncle, Ray Ventura, who was a renown band leader and composer. Trained by Henry Salvador, guitarist/singer for Ventura's orchestra, Distel was featured soloist with his school orchestra by the age of thirteen. He established his early reputation as accompanist for French vocalist Juliette Greco.
Following a stint in the French military, Distel spent an extended period in New York, haunting jazz clubs in Manhattan and Harlem. Returning to France, Distel launched his solo career.
The success that Distel enjoyed during the 1960s and ‘70s were offset by a series of setbacks in the 1980s. After struggling psychologically following a mid-80s car crash, in which a colleague was seriously hurt, Distel was diagnosed with cancer and forced to undergo chemotherapy.
Distel's compositions have been covered by a lengthy list of international artists including Archie Shepp, Tony Bennett, Bobby Darin, Billy Eckstine, Bobby Hackett, Shirley Horn and Bireli Legrene. He passed away in 2004 at the age of 71.
---Craig Harris, All Music Guide |
