Joe Dassin was born in New York on November 5, 1938.
Joseph is the son of the violinist Beatrice (B), who has worked with top classical musicians such as Pablo Casals. His father, Jules Dassin, was fond of cinema. After a short career, he became Hitchcock's assistant director and then director. Joe had two more sisters: the eldest - Ricky and the little one - Julie.
Until 1940, Joe lived in New York. Then his father, seduced by the "seventh art" (cinema), decided to move to Los Angeles.
In mysterious Los Angeles with the MGM studios and the beaches of the Pacific coast, Joe lived a happy life until one day.
Joe's move to Europe
Along with the end of World War II and the Yalta Agreement, the world is forced to come to terms with the consequences of the Cold War.
East and West opposed each other - the USA against the USSR, capitalism against socialism. Joseph McCarthy (Republican senator from Wisconsin) was against people suspected of complicity with the communists.
Jules Dassin, who had already become famous, was also under suspicion. Soon he was accused of "Moscow sympathy". This meant the end of the sweet Hollywood life and exile for the family. The transatlantic liner left New York Harbor for Europe in late 1949. In 1950, Joe discovered Europe when he was 12 years old.
While Jules and Bea were living in Paris, Joe was sent to the boarding school of the famous Colonel Rosy in Switzerland. The establishment was chic and very expensive. Despite the exile, money was not a big problem for the family.
At 16, Joe was a very handsome guy with an attractive look. He spoke three languages fluently and received a good grade on the BAC exam.
Joe Dassin: Return to America
In 1955, Joe's parents divorced. The guy took the failure of his parents' family life to heart and decided to return to his home.
In the United States, the standards of university education were unsurpassed. When Joe entered the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Elvis Presley began his "crusade" for rock and roll. Joe did not really like this musical style.
Dassin lived with his two French-speaking friends. They only had an acoustic guitar. Thanks to solo concerts, they received some money, but at the same time the guys had to look for additional work.
Joe got his diploma and decided that his future was in Europe. With $300 in his pocket, Joe boarded a ship that took him to Italy.
Joe Dassin and Maris
On December 13, 1963, Joe radically changed his personal life. At one of the many parties, he met the girl Maris. None of them suspected that a 10-year romance would follow.
A few days after the party, Joe invited Maris for a weekend at the Moulin de Poincy (about 40 km from Paris). His goal is to seduce her in various ways. After the weekend, they fell in love with each other.
In an effort to become the head of the family, he redoubled his efforts. To get more money, he dubbed American films and wrote articles for Playboy and The New Yorker magazines. He even played a role in Trefle Rouge and Lady L.
Joe Dassin's first serious recording
On December 26, Joe was in the CBS recording studio. Oswald d'André conducted the orchestra. They recorded four tunes for an EP with a glossy cover.
The radio stations that were important in "promoting" the discs were enthusiastic, and this did not move CBS into action. Monique Le Marcis (Radio Luxembourg) and Lucien Leibovitz (Europe Un) are the only DJs to include Joe's songs in their playlists.
From May 7 to May 14, Joe returned to the recording studio with the same Oswald d'André. Three recording sessions resulted in four songs - all cover versions (for the second EP (Extended Play)). After the release in June, the disc was released in 2 copies. Two consecutive "failures" forced Joe to focus on his future career.
A new recording session was scheduled for October 21st and 22nd. On the third EP, Joe collected the best cover versions. Shortly after recording, 4 EPs were released, followed by 1300 promotions. And the radio stations warmly received it. About 25 thousand copies were sold.
Joe Dassin with his know-how
In 1966, Joe began working for Radio Luxembourg. Meanwhile, the market was waiting for a new disc. This time it was a two-song single that is used for jukeboxes. Indeed, a great novelty for the French music market.
Since the beginning of the vinyl disc business in France, record companies have only released four-song EPs as it was more profitable. Joe wrapped the disc in a colored cardboard cover. Joe Dassin was one of the first French CBS performers to experience this know-how.
Joe is the favorite target of the press. What could be better than interviewing Jules Dassin's son in the film capital of the world? But Joe understood that this game was very risky for him. He preferred to avoid being mentioned in the newspapers.
Trying to find new tunes
Joe was successful, but he wanted to "transform" his bold attempt to be number one on the charts. During a trip to Italy with Jacques Plait, where Joe "promoted" five songs, he listened to potential tunes.
This American, who didn't look for cover songs anywhere but the US, would probably find something in the land of mandolins. Joe and Jacques returned home with many records.
On February 19, De Lane Lee Music's recording studio at 129 Kingsway Street was in full swing. Four songs were recorded. One of them is a cover version of a melody found in Italy, the second is La Bande a Bonnot. Then Joe's songs were broadcast by all radio stations.
Spring and summer are coming and Joe's songs are on every radio station.
While in Italy, Joe met Carlos and Sylvie Vartan. Carlos became one of his best friends. This friendship was strengthened while reporting from Tunisia for the popular magazine Salut Les Copains (SLC).
In September, CBS recorded a new press officer, Robert Tutan. From now on, he followed the image of Joe. And in November, the singer went to London to record new songs. He recorded four songs, three of which became hits.
Work in London and health problems
In February, CBS released a single with two previous hits by Bip-Bip and Les Dalton.
In the meantime, Joe went to London for more recordings. Completing the work, Joe returned to Paris in the midst of television interviews and radio interviews, many concert events.
On April 1, Joe became ill. Heart attack due to viral pericarditis. Joe was bedridden for a month, but between May and June he released an album that the public liked more than his previous works. At the same time, he was invited to Salves D'or, a television program starring Henri Salvador.
The single and album sold very well. And there was no need to release other works. The new song had to be as strong as the previous songs. As a result, the compositions C'est La Vie, Lily and Billy Le Bordelais were chosen. Almost immediately, the disc became a success. The album was just released and sales have increased. 10 days passed and Joe received his "golden" disc.
Single A Toi and divorce
The single A Toi was successful from January 1977. In March and April, Joe recorded two new tunes for the coming summer. At the same time, Joe and his wife Maris decided to get a divorce.
On June 7, Joe recorded Spanish versions of A Toi and Le Jardin du Luxembourg. Spain and South America were pleasantly shocked. In September, CBS released the next two compilations. Only one Dans Les Yeux D'Emilie song from the new album became a hit. The rest of Les Femmes De Ma Vie is a touching tribute to all the women who mattered to Joe, especially his sister.
1978 LP
LP released in January. Two songs from it, La Premiere Femme De Ma Vie and J'ai Craque, were written by Alain Gorager.
On January 14, Joe married Christina Delvaux. The ceremony took place in Cotignac with Serge Lama and Gene Manson as guests.
On March 4, Dans Les Yeux D'Emilie broke into the Dutch hit parade.
In June, Joe and his mother-in-law Melina Mercouri recorded a duet in Greek, Ochi Den Prepi Na Sinandithoume, which was to be part of the Cri Des Femmes soundtrack. This song was also later released as a promotional single. Shortly before this, Joe outplayed Woman, No Cry. This is a reggae tune written by Bob Marley and rewritten by Boney M.
Christina was pregnant, and the summer was spent caring for her future mother. New Year holidays passed in seconds. Times have changed. Joe felt that if he wanted to stay where he was, he had to redouble his efforts.
On February 14, he recorded the Spanish versions of La Vie Se Chante, La Vie Se Pleure and Si Tu Penses a Moi. Since that time, Joe has worked more for Latin America than for the Iberian Peninsula.
On March 31 and April 1, Dassin joined Bernard Estardi in the studio. In it they remade 5 English versions of songs from Joe's latest album. Now the singer was ready to release his "American" album in France. He took this disc very close to his heart.
The Last Years of Joe Dassin's Life
The state of his health, especially his heart, caused him many problems. In July, already suffering from a peptic ulcer, Joe suffered a heart attack and was taken to the American hospital in Neuilly.
On July 26, Jacques Ple visited him before leaving for Tahiti. Their longtime friendship has become even closer over the years. Another heart attack struck Joe in Los Angeles, at the obligatory landing point between Paris and Papeete.
His state of health did not allow him to smoke or drink, but, feeling depressed, Joe did not pay attention to this. Arriving in Tahiti with Claude Lemesle, his mother Bea, Joe tried to forget about personal problems.
At Chez Michel et Eliane on August 20 at noon local time, Joe collapsed, the victim of his fifth heart attack. When AFP announced it in France, all radio stations wanted to play Joe's songs.
While the media tried to unravel the Dassin case, the public was still snapping up Joe's CDs. And in September, a significant number of compilations were released, including three sets of discs, conceived as a tribute to the American from Paris.
