Singer Gilles Dreu died this Tuesday, January 7, at the age of 90. The artist became known thanks to his title Lark and he has since multiplied the successes in music and in cinema. A look back at his life.
A page in French music is turning. The artist Gilles Dreu died this Tuesday, January 7 at the age of 90. It was revealed thanks to its title Larkreleased in 1968 and remained number 1 for several weeks. In parallel with his career as a singer, Gilles Dreu also established himself in the cinema with roles in Les Cracks or even Surprise sock. For the cinema, he will compose the soundtrack of the film A one-way ticketthen that of My sister for television. It was his producer Pierre-Nicolas Cléré who announced the sad news of his disappearance via AFP and on behalf of his family.
63 years of career celebrated on stage
Gilles Dreu died at his home in Vals-les-Bains, in Ardèche, on the morning of January 7, where he had lived for around ten years. If the causes of his death have not been revealed, the singer made his cancer public in 2020. The artist had been battling prostate cancer for several years.. He thought he had overcome it after an experimental treatment at the Institut Curie, but 7 years later, the disease resurfaced. It was at this time that he decided to openly confide about his illness. Even physically diminished, Gilles Dreu wanted to celebrate his 63 years of career, in 2022, first at La Nouvelle Eve in Paris, then at the Olympia, a year later, accompanied by his closest friends and artists.
Gilles Dreu and his unexpected career
Jean-Paul Chapuisat, his real name, never thought he would have such a career, he who imagined himself a gym teacher. It was a bet between friends that pushed him to go on stage for the first time at the Tire-Bouchon. He performs there When we only have loveby Jacques Brel and he is immediately spotted by the owner. He asked her to sing three songs on stage the next day, and her singing career began. He then took the stage name Gilles Dreu, in homage to Dreux, the town where he came from. He signed with a first label and recorded several 45s, then signed with Hugues Aufray. This is his title Larkwhich will give him success. In 2006, the artist even participated in Âge Tendre, the tour of idolswhich triumphed throughout France.
