One of France's most popular vocal groups was formed in Lyon in 1941, during the Nazi Occupation and the Vichy regime, under the impetus of choirmaster Louis Liénard. The members of the choir, all in their twenties at the time, would go on to enjoy long and distinguished careers: Fred Mella (tenor, born 1924), Jean-Louis Jaubert (bass, 1920-2013), Guy Bourguignon (bass, 1920-1969), Jean Broussolle (baritone and composer, 1920-1984), Hubert Lancelot (baritone, 1923-1995), Jean-Pierre Calvet (tenor and lyricist, 1925-1989), Gérard Sabbat (baritone, 1926-2013) and Jo Frachon (bass, 1919-1992), formed Les Compagnons de la Musique, then Les Compagnons de la Chanson. Revealed at a gala benefit for railway workers in 1944, the vocal ensemble collaborated with Edith Piaf, notably on their biggest hit "Les Trois cloches", then on a first American tour. One of the group's members, Paul Buissonneau, remains in Quebec after marrying a Canadian. He was replaced by René Mella (tenor, 1926-2019), brother of Fred Mella. On their return to France, the choir enjoyed a string of stage triumphs at the ABC and Salle Pleyel, before returning to the USA in 1952. Meanwhile, in 1948, they appeared on screen with Edith Piaf in Georges Friedland's film Neuf garçons, un coeur. In 1952, conductor Marc Herrand was replaced by Jean Broussolle. Four years later, soloist Jean Albert was replaced by Jean-Pierre Calvet. Les Compagnons de la Chanson triumphed at the Alhambra and in the operetta Minnie Moustache, by Jean Broussolle and Georges Van Parys. Despite fashions, audiences remained loyal to the group, which celebrated its twentieth anniversary in 1961 with covers of Charles Aznavour songs. But Guy Bourguignon's death on December 31, 1969 signaled the decline of the group, which continued with eight voices. In 1972, Jean Broussolle left his bandmates during Jacques Chancel's program Le Grand échiquier. He was replaced by Michel Cassez (known as Gaston). After a new world tour and a show at Bobino in 1973, Les Compagnons de la Chanson performed the latest hits and celebrated their fortieth anniversary in 1981. The farewell tour that followed lasted five years, including five weeks at the Olympia and a new American and African tour. March 15, 1985 saw the last recital of the troupe, which disbanded to pursue other activities in theater and television. After Jean Broussolle's death on March 22, 1984, the following years saw a succession of deaths: Jean-Pierre Calvet (February 16, 1989), Jo Frachon (February 10, 1992), Hubert Lancelot (March 7, 1995), Gérard Sabbat (February 2, 2013), Jean-Louis Jaubert (June 2, 2013)... The last survivors from the early days of this adventure, brothers René Mella and Fred Mella, died within two months of each other, on September 30 and November 16, 2019 respectively, followed by the latest arrival, Michel Cassez, on May 25, 2025.
