Hugues Aufray was the guest of 8/9 and of Morning First on the occasion of his tour which will pass through Belgium in November. He looked back on his career and his beginnings, and explained to us the reasons for his longevity.
Santiano, Stewball, Celine, Goodbye Mr. Professor…Everyone has at least once hummed at least one of Hugues Aufray’s songs, which have entered the collective memory.
His career began by chance, however, since his dream was to study Fine Arts. While walking with his guitar in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, he was approached by a man who asked him to come and sing for an evening, where he met Micheline Presle et Ginger Rogers.
He then took part in a competition on Europe 1, which he won by performing The puncher of Lilas of Serge Gainsbourgand will never stop singing again.”It wasn’t me who chose this profession, it was destiny that chose me.“, recalls Hugues Aufray.
And at 95, Hugues Aufray is still in shape. He who has never had any apprehension on stage, and who considers his job as a passion, will never think about retirement: “I believe that all human beings have a destiny. In my destiny, it is said that I must continue, because I have not finished what I call my work” he explains.
I still have songs that I have written and that I want to record, that I want to hear sung by people, I still have messages to communicate to help people live, and above all to bring them hope.
If his work is to be rediscovered in its entirety 1959-2020with more than 400 songs and an extremely comprehensive booklet tracing his career, Hugues Aufray will also be back on the Belgian stage. Accompanied by 4 musicians, he will mix his greatest hits and his new songs at the Forum in Liège on November 2, and at the Cirque Royal in Brussels on November 3.
