At 78 years old, the man we call “Papy Guetta” mixes in your evenings from the south of Sarthe!

If you follow the trendiest parties in the sector, it is very likely that you have crossed paths with the famous “ Grandpa Guetta ».

At 78 years old, Jean-Michel Dublanc, from Thoiré-sur-Dinan, is theessential entertainer from southern Sarthe. Meet a colorful and always smiling character.

Jean-Michel Dublanc is Papy Guetta!

Jean-Michel celebrated his 78th birthday last November. “I am originally from the Ardennes, and I have always had a great passion for Music,” he smiles.

At 10 years old, when he wanted to become saxophonist“at the time, it was obligatory to do music theory. But it pissed me off, I threw it all away,” he says, without filter…

“I remember the teacher saying to my parents, what are you going to do with this one.”

The young Jean-Michel then moved towards the snare drum, and more broadly, percussion: “It required less effort. So I took drum lessons.” And one thing led to another, Jean-Michel became drummer for different field orchestras.

“Music and me are one”

He dances, he sings, he entertains, he plays… Jean-Michel is multicasquette. And don’t think he just stumbled into it by chance.

Music, for the Dublancs, is a family affair:

My parents ran a bar-restaurant and knew how to set the mood! My father was Basque and sang all the time. With my wife Janine, we had two children and grandchildren who are just as music fans! They are all more or less musicians and I even have a little daughter who works at Sony!

“Music and me are one. So much so that when I go shopping, I sing! »

“The Yé-Yé years”

In the 1960s, Jean-Michel was around twenty years old.

“During that time, it was the Stones, the Beatlesthe Yé Yé years… So, with friends, as we loved dancing, making music, we set up our group. I was always a drummer. We played together for two years, before life separated us,” he recalls.

But this does not mean that Jean-Michel has given up passion ! Even if he didn’t make it his job, Jean-Michel was an assembly technician specializing in heating. He also remembers that “it wasn’t easy at the time. I already knew I wouldn’t do this for the rest of my life.”

But above all, he had music on the side: “I had my job which made me earn money which allowed me to go out,go to the ball ».

From the Ardennes to Paris

Faced with the harsh reality of his profession, Jean-Michel began looking for new opportunities of work:

“I had a preference for the South. I applied everywhere, but the first letter I received was Paris.

And as I only have one word, so we left for Paris “. Jean-Michel therefore left his orchestras and left for the capital:

“We lived in the 18th arrondissement. But my wife was unable to adapt, we left for Seine-et-Marne.”

They stayed there for 44 years of their lives.

“I was like a kid in front of his new toy”

Jean-Michel is undoubtedly a warm and smiling person.

“That’s why I bond easily of friendship with people.” Leaving the Ardennes didn’t scare him: “I made friends everywhere I went.”

He continues:

“In 1975, I had a friend who was celebrating his son’s 18th birthday. He asked me to be the host of his birthday party since I had a lot of CD and of vinyls. I didn’t see any problem with it but the problem was that I didn’t know anything about it,” laughs Jean-Michel.

Another friend, who worked for a sound company, then lent him the necessary equipment, only a few hours before this famous evening.

“Arriving in front of the equipment, I was like a kid in front of his new toy. I was amazed ».

After a few demonstrations by his friend, the future host was launched.

Back then it was just two record players. I admit that I was a little overwhelmed, especially since there were 70 people. But I did pretty well.

So much so that during this evening, the manager of the company which had lent him the equipment in question came to observe Jean-Michel at the turntables and pointed out to him that he was “doing quite well” and suggested that he “do that more often.”

And this is how the legend Jean-Michel Dublanc was born, a DJ entertainer loving and much loved.

“For this company, I had my first dance evenings, and we didn’t only organize evenings on weekends! Back then, it was all the time. It had nothing to do with today, but it was work! »

A myriad of stars

Thanks to this cap, Jean-Michel was able to meet many stars : Michel Fugain, Yannick Noah, Manu Chao “three times”, Eric Clapton “five times”, Carlos Santana “who is really a nice guy”, or even Les Négresses vertes.

Grandpa Guetta arrives in Sarthe

In 2002, Jean-Michel and Janine arrived in Thoiré-sur-Dinan for their retirement.

“Acquaintances advised us to settle in Sarthe. And they were right. The people are friendly, it’s a beautiful region and we were very well received.”

When he arrived in Thoiré, Jean-Michel left his turntables in the closet, concentrating on his life as a young retiree.

“It was the former mayor of Thoiré, Jean-Claude Chollet, who advised me to continue. I met the local associationsit worked out, I then decided to get back into it and volunteer for my town.”

“My gear costs an arm and a leg”

Jean-Michel is back and in the process earns the affectionate nickname of “Papy Guetta”.

Through many evenings, Jean-Michel became professional and launched his car company : “It’s mainly for insurance. My gear costs an arm and a leg! », he laughs, still smiling.

Birthdays, association evenings, both private and public… Jean-Michel travels wherever we want him, always accompanied by his compilations and his contagious good humor.

“I think people like me because I make bullshitI sing, I dance with them. What I like most is to make them smile, to see them happy,” and there, for Papy Guetta, it’s mission accomplished.

“In any case, that’s what people tell me at the end of the evenings, that people stayed because I was on the show.”

An “old-fashioned” job

On the “gear” side, as he likes to remind us, Jean-Michel works “the old-fashioned way”.

I’m modern, but I don’t work on a computer. I’m 78 years old, there’s no point in investing, I’m happy with what I have.

With his CD decks and his engraver, Jean-Michel broadcasts the compils that he knows “inside out”. And let the magic happen.

And when it comes to music, Jean-Michel is a real chameleon and will broadcast whatever is asked of him.

“At the moment, I listen a lot SantaI was actually able to meet her, she’s nice! »

Recently, Jean-Michel, always armed with his bright shoes “given to him by a friend” and fancy glasses, hosted an evening in Beaumont-sur-Dême and will be back in the Colorés d’Aubigné in 2025 while it caused a sensation in 2023.

“I don’t advertise too much. For me, it works through word of mouth. Sometimes I open the window and bring life to the street. The neighbors are happy.”

And that’s enough for him. Because the most important thing, for Papy Guetta, is to smile at life, whatever happens.

To offer you the services of “Papy Guetta”, contact 06 85 95 37 81 or [email protected]

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