Gilbert Montagné
Gilbert Montagné ( born December 28, 1951 in Paris ) is a French singer, who is blind because of retinopathy of prematurity.
The musical teaching
Born in Paris on December 28, 1951 Gilbert Montagné is the fourth child of a family of humble origins. Early on, he discovered the music at a music school in Saint- Mandé, where he received a classical education. Nevertheless, he developed a musical taste of its own, which is to be settled, despite its diversity in jazz and rock. He spent the next six years at the National Institute for Blind Youth in the disability space. During his stay, Gilbert Montagné acquired an organ, an instrument that his desire to become a musician, nor reinforced.
A journey of discovery in America
In the summer of 1968, at the age of 16 years, Gilbert Montagné decided, some music producers to audition his music. However, these accused him of too American sounding. Despite everything, he took a record " Quand les yeux on ferme ", in German "If you close your eyes ", whose lyrics were written by Pierre Delanoé. The plate was a total flop. Therefore, he decided to visit his sister, a French teacher in Miami. There he enrolled at the university and studied classical music. In his spare time he played jazz and soul music. Alone or with friends, he formed a band very quickly, which occurred throughout the winter at clubs in Miami or New York. His work as a musician filled it completely and gives him joy, also living in the USA he liked so much that he decided to stay there permanently. Ultimately, he decided to be different.
His first success
1971 convinced him a phone call with Salvatore Adamo to come back to Europe. In May of the same year, Gilbert was finally in London, together with the choristers of Joe Cocker and Elvis Presley to the song " The Fool ", in German " The Fool " to take. The song went around the world and landed in twelve countries to square 1 This was followed by tours, television and radio appearances. At the invitation of Julien Clerc Gilbert had his first performances in the Olympic Hall, a concert hall in Paris, and also made a short film, which portrays his life. At this time, Gilbert Montagné just 20 years old. This was followed by his second album in 1973 and 1976, a third. However, Gilbert lost the ground under his feet and fled to America, to Canada, and in his old jazz clubs, where he sought refuge in the anonymity. In the short term, he married his first wife, Maureen Byrne, from whom he was divorced in 1993. In 1975 his first son Eric was born, who now works in Paris in the hotel industry. Ten years later, Nicolas was born, who lives with his mother in Canada today.
The Return to Europe
Committed by Johnny Hallyday after five years ' exile, " Gilbert Montagné took as a piano player at a concert at the " Pavillon de Paris " in Pantin, a town north of Paris, in part. After that he started his big comeback in the public by 1980 the song " Believe in me ", in German, recorded " Believe in me." Three years later he got for his album " Liberté ", in German "Freedom ", several gold records. Many songs of this album, including " On va S'aimer " to German "We will love ," and " Sous les sunlight des Tropiques ", in German "Under the tropical sun," Didier Barbelivien wrote.
The great success
During the 1980s he completed a tour to the other and releasing several albums in rapid succession ( " Quelques notes de musique ", " Je veux tout ", " Plus la vie continue ", " Perdu dans New York ", " Le coeur en sursis ") before he finally decided in 1990 to move to Canada. His gold records by the very successful tours and the sale of the associated CDs as well as his live double CD made his achievements are getting bigger. After eight years of living together with Nikole it was finally his second wife. After a wonderful honeymoon in Bali, Gilbert continued his constant struggle for the blind, especially through European projects for the labeling of products in Braille, continued. After a thirty year career, he finally decided to retire from the music industry.