Les Charlots

Renowned for their comic tunes and flair for parody, Les Charlots formed a French comedy-pop ensemble whose studio activity extended across multiple decades, beginning in the mid-'60s and concluding in the mid-'80s. During the 1970s, when the group reached its commercial zenith, the musicians also starred in numerous slapstick feature films. The lineup consisted of Gérard Rinaldi on vocals, Gérard Filipelli on lead guitar, Luis Rego on rhythm guitar, Jean Sarrus on bass, and Jean-Guy Fechner on drums. Their first recording appeared in 1966 as the four-song 7" EP Chauffe Marcel... issued by Disques Vogue. The following year brought both the live full-length debut Les Charlots à l'Olympia and the studio follow-up Charlow'up. Throughout the remainder of the 1960s and into the 1970s the band stayed prolific on Disques Vogue, issuing numerous singles alongside albums such as Caf'Conc'Charlots (1968), Les Charlots Chantent Boris Vian (1969), Charlotissimo (1969), Il Etait une Fois à l'Olympia (1969), Charloteries (1971), Les Charlots en Vadrouille (1972), Olympia 72 (1972), Les Grands Succès (1972), Au Pays des Pesetas (1973), Ce Soir J'attends Valéry (1975), Nouvelle Cuvee (1976), and Et Ta Soeur... (1977). Although Les Charlots continued to record in later years, releases became infrequent and sales declined as the group shifted between labels in pursuit of renewed success. Subsequent projects appeared on Barclay, while assorted greatest-hits compilations surfaced periodically. At the height of their fame in the late '60s and early '70s, the musicians regularly appeared in slapstick comedies including La Grande Java (1971), Les Bidasses en Folie (1971), Les Fous du Stade (1972), and additional titles.