BIOGRAPHY OF CLAUDE NOUGARO. French author, composer, performer and poet, known (among others) for his title “Armstrong”, Claude Nougaro died on March 4, 2004.
The dream life of Nougaro. This Thursday, April 07, 2022 from 9:10 p.m., France 3 honors the singer from Toulouse in a documentary directed by Thierry Guedj. The film retraces the life of Claude Nougaro, from his beginnings during the Yéyé period to the end of his immense career, which lasted forty years. A portrait that explores the intimacy of the unforgettable interpreter ofarmstrongwhose death had shaken France.
After months of fighting pancreatic cancer and several surgeries, Claude Nougaro died on March 4, 2004 at his home in Paris. The singer was 74 years old and had been hospitalized in Paris for a few weeks, before returning to his home for his last days. A mass was celebrated at Notre-Dame de Paris on Monday March 8, 2004, in honor of this immense interpreter, whose ashes will be scattered in the sky of Toulouse.
From his birth in 1929, Claude Nougaro was steeped in music. Passionate about jazz, Claude Nougaro is known for his songs, in particular Toulouse, You will see and armstrong. Claude Nougaro was born on September 9, 1929 in Toulouse, from a piano teacher mother and a baritone father at the Paris Opera. From birth, he grew up in the musical world. His parents being often on tour, Claude Nougaro was raised by his grandparents. At the age of 12, he already listens Edith Piaf, Glenn Miller or Louis Armstrong.
After failing the baccalaureate, he embarked on journalism and worked for a newspaper in Vichy. He also writes songs for the artists of the moment, in particular for Georges Brassens, which directs him towards romantic and humorous poetry. The young man knows a real click, and it is with enthusiasm that he begins his career in song.
In 1954, Claude Nougaro made his singing debut performing in a small Parisian cabaret, the Intelligent Rabbit, where he reads his poems and experiments with the musical settings of his texts. It was in 1962 that Claude Nougaro enjoyed success with two essential titles: A little girl and Cecile, my daughter. He does the first parts of the concerts of Dalida. He continues on his way and makes decisive acquaintances for the future, like Maurice Vander, a jazz pianist who will follow him to the end.
Toulouse, jazz and java, You will see, armstrong are all titles that reveal the genius and talent of this discreet man. Jazz and African sounds are an integral part of his compositions, always thorough and meticulous in every detail. In the early 1960s, Claude Nougaro performed in prestigious halls: the Olympia, the Palais d’Hiver in Lyon, or the Palais des Congrès. The career of Claude Nougaro knows no moments of breathlessness. It was not until 1995, when his state of health deteriorated, that he turned to writing a more personal and radically different album, The fables of my fountain.
Claude Nougaro leaves for New York in search of inspiration. On the spot, he writes and records the album Nougayork, released in 1987. His song nougayork is one of his biggest hits. This success revived his career. The following year, the singer won the Victory for best album at the Victoires de la Musique.
Alongside his prolific career, Claude Nougaro has always been relatively discreet about his private life. In 1955, when he made his debut at the Lapin Agile cabaret, on the Montmartre hill in Paris, he met Sylvie, one of the establishment’s hostesses. From their union will be born, on May 30, 1962, the now famous Cécile, to whom Claude Nougaro dedicated the song Cecile my daughter. The singer will have a total of four children from three unions, Fanny and Théa with Odette, Pablo with Marcia, before meeting his last wife, Hélène, his new wife. “Hélène is for me the great love of my life. Until now, I had met the women of my life, with her I finally met the woman of my death”, he confided to Stéphane Deschamps in On the edge of words.
In 2004, Les Chevaliers du fiel devoted a sketch to him in homage. An album was released in 2009 consisting of 16 covers of the singer, recorded by Maurane. In 1988, Claude Nougaro received the award for male performer of the year and best album for nougayork at the Music Awards. The city of Toulouse pays homage to him and baptizes a garden, a college, an esplanade, a concert hall and a metro station in his name. Claude Nougaro remains today a reference in the world of music and poetry.