Joe Dassin

Joseph Ira Dassin, better known as Joe Dassin, was born on November 5, 1938 in New York, USA. A Franco-American singer, composer and writer, he has sold nearly 25 million records worldwide, making him one of the most popular representatives of French chanson. The son of Jules Dassin, a film director, and Béatrice Launer, a virtuoso violinist, he is the grandson of Samuel Dassin, a Jewish immigrant from Odessa in the Russian Empire, named "Dassin" by default by the immigration authorities because he couldn't speak English. Joe Dassin grew up between New York and Los Angeles, where he learned piano, banjo and guitar from his mother. In 1950, following accusations of communism against his father, the family moved to Europe, relocating frequently. Joe attended numerous schools across Europe, graduating from Grenoble in 1956. Wounded by his father's expatriation, he decided to return to the United States as a way of thumbing his nose at fate. After studying medicine in the United States, Joe Dassin turned to anthropology. He then considered a literary career, before returning to France to devote himself to writing and film. But it was a musical career that he embraced. In 1964, he met Maryse Massiéra, who encouraged him to record his first songs. He signed with CBS Records. His single "Bip Bip" in 1965 found its audience. But success really came three years later with the song "Les Dalton". This marked the beginning of his collaboration with lyricist Pierre Delanoë. In 1968, he spread his good humor with cheerful songs like "Siffler sur la colline" and "Le Petit pain au chocolat". In 1969, he released "Les Champs-Élysées", one of his biggest hits, selling 600,000 copies and enjoying international success. The 1970s were marked by hits such as "L'Amérique" (1970), "La Fleur aux dents" (1971) and above all "L'Été indien" in 1975, which remains his most emblematic song, selling over a million copies in France. Two years later, he scored another hit with "Dans les yeux d'Émilie". In 1979, he suffered his first heart attack. He suffered a series of attacks, brought on by the stress of a divorce, alcohol and drugs. He suffered another heart attack during what was to be his last stage appearance on July 11, 1980 in Cannes. He finally died on August 20 of the same year of another heart attack while in Papeete (Tahiti). He was 41 years old.