The singer Patachou has died
Le Monde
4/30/2015
Patachou, one of the most cheeky voices of French music
after the war, which had owned a famous Parisian cabaret in Montmartre before
launching herself on stage, died Thursday at 96 years, surrounded his family.
Her real name was Henriette Ragon, Patachou, born June
10, 1918 in Paris, and died at her home in Neuilly (Hauts-de-Seine), announced
her son Pierre Billon who told AFP, confirming a report by France 2.
Brassens and Brel started her cabaret
This artisan girl, was first a typist and factory worker,
in 1948 she opened and managed a cabaret-restaurant in Montmartre, with her
husband Jean Billon, she quickly made a famous place of the Parisian night life.
"At Patachou" it saw the start of many artists
like Jacques Brel and Georges Brassens with which she performed "Maman,
Papa," a duet. Hugues Aufray and
Michel Sardou also performed in this nightclub of the popular song, which was
closed in the ‘70s.
Originally, Patachou, blonde with short hair, began by making
pastry, then bought a nearby local location for her cabaret-restaurant.
In a Renoir film
Supported by Maurice Chevalier, Patachou then took to the
microphone herself, with a repertoire of realistic songs (“La complainte de la
Butte”, “Gamin de Paris”) and light ditties (“le Tapin tranquille”, “Douce
Marijane”). Interpreter with a slight
warm hoarse voice, her “Bal chez Temporel” is remembered as “La Bague à Jules” is
remembered as well as “Toutes les femmes de mon mari”.
She has also performed abroad (U.S.A., Canada, Great Britain,
Brazil), as well as getting small roles in film (1954) in "French Cancan"
and Renoir's "Napoleon" by Guitry. In 1966 Patachou is back in Paris at the
tavern " La Tête de l'art" and in 1969 the restaurant of the Eiffel
Tower, before ending her singing career.
From the 1980s, Patachou is seen in film and television.
The singer and
actress was promoted to Officer of the Legion of Honour and Commander of Arts
and Letters.
PATACHOU (Henriette Eugénie Jeanne Ragon)
Born: 6/10/1918, Paris, Île-de-France, France
Died: 4/30/2015 Neuilly, Hauts-de-Seine, France
Patachou’s western – actress:
Bordertown (TV) – 1991 (Suzanne Dumont) [episode 3.25
Frontier Passage guest appearance)]