Claude François sold over 20 million records throughout a career that spanned roles as a singer, songwriter, and music executive. Best known for co-writing the original version of "My Way," he successfully adapted numerous American and English rock hits for the French market, eventually transitioning his musical style to embrace the disco era before his untimely death in 1978.
Early Life and Career Origins
Born in Ismailia, Egypt, in 1939, Claude Antoine Marie François was the son of a Suez Canal company manager. Following the 1956 Suez Crisis, the family relocated to Monaco. After struggling financially, François found work as a bank clerk and a drummer in Riviera orchestras. He eventually transitioned to singing in venues like the Monte-Carlo Sporting, where he met Janet Woollacott, whom he married in 1960.
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Moving to Paris, François initially struggled with his solo career, recording a failed 45rpm before finding success in 1962 with "Belles! Belles! Belles!," a French adaptation of the Everly Brothers. His status grew rapidly, and by April 1963, he headlined at the Paris Olympia. He introduced choreographed dance routines, notably creating a show featuring backup performers who eventually became known as "Les Clodettes."
Musical Legacy and Business Interests
In 1967, François collaborated with Jacques Revaux to write "Comme d'habitude," the basis for the song "My Way." Beyond his own recording work, he managed his own record label, Flèche, and acquired a celebrity magazine and a modelling agency. He expanded his repertoire throughout the 1970s, recording French versions of international hits and collaborating with family musical acts.
Personal Life and Death
Throughout his life, François maintained high-profile relationships, including a romance with singer France Gall and a long-term partnership with Isabelle Forêt, with whom he had two sons. Despite his success, he faced health struggles, collapsing on stage in 1971 from exhaustion. In March 1978, at the age of 39, he was accidentally electrocuted at his home in the 16th arrondissement of Paris.
Fast facts
- Born: 1939, Ismailia
- Died: 1978, 16th arrondissement of Paris
- Citizenship: France
- Education: Lycée Français du Caire; Albert I Lycée
- First Hit: Belles! Belles! Belles! (1962)
- Original Song: Comme d'habitude (1967)
- Burial Site: Cimetière de Dannemois
Questions readers ask
Did Claude François write My Way?
He co-wrote the music and lyrics for the original French song, "Comme d'habitude," which served as the foundation for the later English version by Paul Anka.
What was the cause of his death?
Claude François died in March 1978 at age 39 due to an accidental electrocution.
Achievements
- Instruments: voice
- Genres: yé-yé, chanson and disco
