the lyricist of Johnny Hallyday and 50 authors expected at this book fair

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The Book fair of Saint-Aubin-sur-Gaillonnear Gaillon (Eure), sets the table again, Saturday October 12 and Sunday October 13, 2024. The association You’re not Cap organizes for the third consecutive year Books in celebration at the community hall.

The show will open its doors on Saturday at 2 p.m. for two days of events, conferences and meetings between readers and authors.

For this edition, the show has not one but two guests of honor which will give a musical color at the event. Indeed, the organizers are bringing Pierre Billon, and Sevy Golden, local singing star.

Pierre Billon, lyricist and close friend of Johnny Hallyday as guest of honor

His name is undoubtedly one of the most often associated with that of Johnny Hallyday. Pierre Billon evokes forty years of friendship in his latest book which he will present and sign at the book fair.

Son of the famous singer-actress Patachou, Pierre will be the guest of honor at the show on Sunday. In his souvenir book “Johnny, somewhere an eagle” (published by Harper-Collins), the author recounts a multitude of events and anecdotes experienced with the many musicians with whom he collaborated.

A character as friendly as he is approachable, Pierre Billon has rubbed shoulders with the biggest names in the artistic world. From “uncle”, Georges Brassens, who was just starting out, performed in Patachou’s cabaret and gave him his first guitar, to his love affair with Liza Minelli, Pierre Billon’s story is worthy of a film script.

Eure Valley rhymes with happiness

Pierre knows our region perfectly, where he spent his early youth. Each invitation to our sector is, for him, a joy that revives his teenage memories. In 2005, in Aubevoye, our friend sponsored the festival Rock-Sixties meeting that evening, the organizer Antoine Baciuthe former Drouot golf course, and Richard Fruit who once hosted a certain Johnny in Bernières-sur-Seine and sold him the latest big cars made in the USA.

But, if there is a village that is dearer to the heart of Pierre Billon, it is the one d’Acquigny. When he was very young, his parents owned a beautiful property there bordered by the Eure. During our last meeting, “Bibi”, as Johnny called him, told us:

“I spent my best teenage years in Acquigny. At church, I made my first communion in a navy blue suit. My mother, so as not to miss the event, even refused Robert Aldrich and Burt Lancaster the role of the countess in the film ‘Vera Cruz’. »

Souvenirs d’Acquigny

At that time, “my religious faith did not prevent me from being madly in love with the Mortreux girls who lived on the Vieux-Logis property, a superb place”.

Only, “those who made me dream played tennis while I wandered around the village on my moped. A Strada-Paloma which took me to Andelys, Gaillon and even Deauville.”

For him, the valley “was also swimming in the Eure and the nearby Iton. Besides the girls, I also envied a guy who rode a Norton. It was the beginning of my passion for motorcycles. »

This is undoubtedly what gave him the idea of ​​later opening a motorcycle dealership. Harley-Davidsonin Saint-Cloud.

Acquigny was even one day the setting for a gathering chaired by Pierre and his mother. At that time, both of them told us about their desire to buy one of the wooden houses that surrounded the lake.

“Johnny, what am I missing!” »

Although he provided valuable assistance to Dick RiversPierre Billon also worked for Liza Minelli, Franck SinatraSamy Davis Junior and many others. Pour Michel Sardouof which he was the musical director during his last recitals, he is the author of “Ten years earlier”, “Je vole”. On the music side, we also find him on “I’m not dead, I’m sleeping” or “Being a woman”.

In the mid-1970s, he passed on his passion for motorcycles to Johnny. Inseparable, the two friends, at that time, crossed the States on their Harleys between two recordings. “ I forgot to live » or « My little wolf » will be among the titles composed for the most famous rocker in France.

Of Sylvie Vartan to LaetitiaPierre was the witness of all the loves of the one he considers his brother. “What am I missing,” he said, thinking of Johnny, whose last hours he experienced. The day before his death, the interpreter of “Penitentiary” had sent an SMS to Pierre asking him: “My ‘Bibi’, a little thought for you this morning. I hope you’re in good shape.”

A week later, as if they had both wanted never to separate, in front of millions of spectators and fans, Pierre Billon, carrying his friend’s coffin, entered the Madeleine church in Paris, during of the last tribute to the Idol of young people, and not so young people.

Patrick-Serge Lefebvre

“Books in celebration” book fair organized by the T’es pas Cap association, Saturday October 12 and Sunday October 13, at the village hall of Saint-Aubin-sur-Gaillon. Open Saturday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. FREE ENTRANCE. Catering on site.

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