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Erik Marchand, born on October 2, 1955, in Paris, France, was a French musician known for his contributions to world music. Raised with roots in Alsace, Périgord, and Brittany, he began his musical journey by recording family singers around Quelneuc. In 1976, Marchand won the prestigious Bogue d'or with "Rossignolet du vert bocage" and started performing at festoù-noz (Breton dance parties) in Paris. He trained under Manuel Kerjean and Yann-Fañch Kemener, becoming a professional traditional singer in Brittany. In 1981, he co-founded the group Gwerz, which blended traditional Breton music with contemporary arrangements. Marchand's notable albums include Chants du Centre-Bretagne: "An heñchoú treuz" (1990), Kan (2001), and Dor (1998). He collaborated extensively with the Taraf de Caransebeș, blending Breton and Romanian musical traditions. Marchand's work earned him the Prix de l'Académie Charles-Cros for his album An Henchoù Treuz. He passed away on October 30, 2025, in Banat, Caransebeș, Romania.
