“My wish is to pass the baton to the youngest”: Jamy & Les Kids (almost) bows out

Will the children’s favorite bow out? Jamy & the Kids performed on the Cri’Art stage this Wednesday, November 6 for, perhaps, one of its last shows. After 25 years of entertaining young people and bringing them joy through interactive shows, Jamy intends to propel a new group from the Gers to take over.

“My wish now would be to pass the baton to the younger ones,” explains Jamy. “I have found the group for next year but I don’t want to reveal it.” For the artist, it is complicated to consider total retirement, given the number of requests he receives. “For December, I have 14 shows planned, I had to refuse 15,” he regrets.

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Jamy & the Kids at Cri’art

Jamy still celebrated his 25 years of production in the Cri’Art hall in Auscita, in front of an assembly of children full of energy. “There were a lot of emotions, and it was the singer Poupette’s birthday.” To celebrate this quarter century, the artists performed, with the children, their great classic “The Scarecrow”, sung for the first time in this same performance hall 25 years ago.

A commitment to retirement homes

The Gersois does not stop at shows for children, he also performs in retirement homes. There, the principle is the same: interaction.

“In nursing homes, we have a repertoire of around 120 songs, and I do them as for children,” says the singer. During his shows, Jamy tries to involve his audience. “I even go to the Alzheimer’s units, where I have a little educational side by making the elderly people guess the songs.”

From “Mon amant de Saint-Jean” to the Bourvil repertoire, including the “Ballade of Happy People”: Jamy adapts his show. “It remains the same pedagogy as with children, because I realized that when we are old, we become children again. That’s what moves me a lot.”

Retirement soon?

“It’s about two years since I could have retired and I know I’ll never really retire.” For the Gers artist, his presence in nursing homes is too important for the elderly.

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Jamy Les Kids and Poupette on the Castère stage

The problem of replacement also arises. “For nursing homes, finding a new group is not easy. And especially in my interactive repertoire,” he emphasizes. The same story resonates when it comes to funding, which is difficult to find.

This Wednesday in any case, the children of Cri’Art experienced some difficulty in saying goodbye to him, even if, for the moment, the artist plans to return. One of them even went on stage to hug the singer. “When you are a musician and passionate, it is difficult to stop,” assures Jamy once again.