French Singer. His father was an engineer and his mother worked with antiques. He was the youngest of six children and attended boarding school. Like most teenagers at that time, after being exposed to the Beatles, he decided on a career in music. He worked as a ballroom singer and eventually auditioned for the band "Presence." They released an album and toured France. He penned a song for Patrick Jouvet and was hired to open for him as a solo vocalist. Barclay's Records signed him to a three year contract, but the sales of his first album were weak. He also began to write songs for Catherine Ferry. A live performance of a song from his second album, caught the attention of Michel Berger who was looking to cast his musical "Starmania." Balavoine won the part of Johnny Rockfort. The success of "Starmania" boosted the sale of his third album "Le Chanteur" to a million copies sold. He continued to tour with the musical. His fourth album met with moderate sales, but his fifth was a viable commercial success. Moving to Spain in 1981, he wrote another well received record and it was followed by a sold out tour. He used his fame to focus attention on humanitarian efforts especially in Africa. He would appear at Live Aid and join Action Ecole. While in Africa to fundraise, he was killed in a helicopter crash in the Mali desert. Over his lifetime, he released ten albums, nine compilations, and many singles, selling more than twenty million records, indicative of his great popularity in France. His songs continue to be covered by many artists. The Daniel Balavoine Foundation was created to continue his work with the people of Gao.
French Singer. His father was an engineer and his mother worked with antiques. He was the youngest of six children and attended boarding school. Like most teenagers at that time, after being exposed to the Beatles, he decided on a career in music. He worked as a ballroom singer and eventually auditioned for the band "Presence." They released an album and toured France. He penned a song for Patrick Jouvet and was hired to open for him as a solo vocalist. Barclay's Records signed him to a three year contract, but the sales of his first album were weak. He also began to write songs for Catherine Ferry. A live performance of a song from his second album, caught the attention of Michel Berger who was looking to cast his musical "Starmania." Balavoine won the part of Johnny Rockfort. The success of "Starmania" boosted the sale of his third album "Le Chanteur" to a million copies sold. He continued to tour with the musical. His fourth album met with moderate sales, but his fifth was a viable commercial success. Moving to Spain in 1981, he wrote another well received record and it was followed by a sold out tour. He used his fame to focus attention on humanitarian efforts especially in Africa. He would appear at Live Aid and join Action Ecole. While in Africa to fundraise, he was killed in a helicopter crash in the Mali desert. Over his lifetime, he released ten albums, nine compilations, and many singles, selling more than twenty million records, indicative of his great popularity in France. His songs continue to be covered by many artists. The Daniel Balavoine Foundation was created to continue his work with the people of Gao.
Bio by: Winter Birds PA
Advertisement
See more Balavoine memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
