Biography
Born in Paris on December 17, 1915, French vocalist André Claveau secured victory at the 1958 Eurovision Song Contest. He ranked among France’s leading singers throughout the 1940s and 1950s. The 1936 release “Chez Moi” marked his first hit and opened the door to dozens of follow-up successes, among them “Quand un Petit Oiseau” in 1938 and the wartime smashes “Ah! C’qu’on S’Aimait” from 1941 plus “En Fredonnant la Même Chanson” and “Mon Chemin N’Est Pas le Votre” from 1942. Further chart entries such as “Une Chanson à la Diable” in 1949, “Moulin Rouge” in 1953, and “La Complainte de la Butte” in 1955 sustained his standing through the decade. Eurovision success with “Dors Mon Amour” (Sleep My Love) maintained his visibility into the 1960s. Several French anthology CDs gather highlights from this extensive catalog. Claveau also appeared in French hits including Le Destin S’Amuse, Pas de Vacances Pour Monsieur le Maire, Les Surprises d’une Nuit de Noces, and Prisonniers de la Brousse. He died on July 4, 2003.