Mike Brant

Mike Brant rose to international prominence as an Israeli vocalist during the early and middle years of the 1970s, enjoying particular acclaim in France after his recording career opened with the 1970 breakout of his signature track, "Laisse-moi T'aimer." Born Moshe Brand on February 1, 1947, inside a Jewish internment camp on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, he moved with his family to Haifa, Israel, less than a year later. His parents, Holocaust survivors who had escaped Poland, raised him there. He launched his performing career as a vocalist in the 1960s and chose the stage name Mike Brant to widen his appeal abroad, even though he spoke only Hebrew and delivered lyrics phonetically in English, French, and additional languages. At the encouragement of French pop singer Sylvie Vartan, he relocated to Paris in 1969 and was directed to producer and songwriter Jean Renard, whose prior credits included work with Vartan and Johnny Hallyday. Renard wrote and produced "Laisse-moi T'aimer," which became Brant's breakthrough single in 1970 and continues to stand as his most recognized recording. In its aftermath he issued a consistent series of hit singles: "Mais Dans la Lumière" and "Parce Que Je T'aime Plus Que Moi" in 1970, "À Corps Perdu" in 1971, "Qui Saura?," "C'est Ma Prière," and "Sans Amis" in 1972, "Rien Qu'une Larme," "Toi, Mon Enfant," "Tout Donné, Tout Repris," and "Viens Ce Soir" in 1973, "Serre les Poings et Bats-toi," "Qui Pourra Te Dire?," "C'est Comme Ça Que Je T'aime," and "Toutes les Couleurs" in 1974, and "Dis-lui" in 1975. His album catalog comprises Mike Brant (1970), L'Album d'Or (1972), Mike Brant 74 (1974), and Toutes les Couleurs (1974). On April 25, 1975, Brant died in Paris after reportedly leaping from a hotel window.