Catherine Lara
Encyclopedia
Catherine Lara is a French violinist, composer and singer.
in 1966.
She played and composed for famous singers before starting to sing herself. Her first album, Ad libitum was released in 1972. Since her 1979 album Coup d'fell, her songs are more influenced by rock music. The 1983 album La Rockeuse de diamant provided a major success with the single "La Rockeuse de diamant", and a daring song with "Autonome", in which she says : "[I'm] free to love a woman or a man".
In 1986 she made a breakthrough with the single "Nuit magique" written by Luc Plamondon
, her biggest hit that brought her fame and made her win a Victoires de la musique
(French Grammy Awards) for best female singer of the year. She published her autobiography in 1987, L'Aventurière de l'archet perdu. She was named Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
by the French Ministry of Culture in 1990.
Still with Plamondon, she worked on a rock opera
where she embodied female writer George Sand
, titled Sand et les Romantiques in 1991. As a part of the show, she released a duet with her friend Véronique Sanson
, entitled "Entre elle et moi".
She takes part in charity tours for Les Restos du coeur
, alongside French rock stars Johnny Hallyday
, Eddy Mitchell
and Jean-Jacques Goldman
, as well as Sidaction
and Sol En Si
.
In 2002 she composed a song for the France national football team
, to be sung by Johnny Hallyday. The same year Lara was named Officer of the Ordre de la Légion d'honneur.
Music career
As a child, Lara studied violin and received the first prize of chamber music at the Conservatoire de ParisConservatoire de Paris
The Conservatoire de Paris is a college of music and dance founded in 1795, now situated in the avenue Jean Jaurès in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France...
in 1966.
She played and composed for famous singers before starting to sing herself. Her first album, Ad libitum was released in 1972. Since her 1979 album Coup d'fell, her songs are more influenced by rock music. The 1983 album La Rockeuse de diamant provided a major success with the single "La Rockeuse de diamant", and a daring song with "Autonome", in which she says : "[I'm] free to love a woman or a man".
In 1986 she made a breakthrough with the single "Nuit magique" written by Luc Plamondon
Luc Plamondon
Luc Plamondon, OC, CQ is a French-Canadian lyricist.-Career:Plamondon has written for many artists, notably the Québécois singers Bruno Pelletier, Diane Dufresne, Robert Charlebois, Céline Dion, Ginette Reno, Fabienne Thibeault, Martine St. Clair, and Garou, as well as the French singers Julien...
, her biggest hit that brought her fame and made her win a Victoires de la musique
Victoires de la Musique
Victoires de la musique , is an annual French award ceremony that recognizes the best musical artists of the year.- Male artist of the year :*1985 : Michel Jonasz*1986 : Jean-Jacques Goldman*1987 : Johnny Hallyday...
(French Grammy Awards) for best female singer of the year. She published her autobiography in 1987, L'Aventurière de l'archet perdu. She was named Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres is an Order of France, established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture, and confirmed as part of the Ordre national du Mérite by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963...
by the French Ministry of Culture in 1990.
Still with Plamondon, she worked on a rock opera
Rock opera
A rock opera is a work of rock music that presents a storyline told over multiple parts, songs or sections in the manner of opera. A rock opera differs from a conventional rock album, which usually includes songs that are not unified by a common theme or narrative. More recent developments include...
where she embodied female writer George Sand
George Sand
Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin, later Baroness Dudevant , best known by her pseudonym George Sand , was a French novelist and memoirist.-Life:...
, titled Sand et les Romantiques in 1991. As a part of the show, she released a duet with her friend Véronique Sanson
Véronique Sanson
Véronique Sanson is a two-time Victoires de la Musique Award-winning French singer-songwriter, musician, and producer with an avid following in her native country.She brings a very personal vocal style to the singing of French pop songs: Her voice has a very strong vibrato.Unlike...
, entitled "Entre elle et moi".
She takes part in charity tours for Les Restos du coeur
Restaurants du Cœur
The Restaurants du Cœur is a French charitable organisation, the main activity of which is to distribute food packages and hot meals to the needy....
, alongside French rock stars Johnny Hallyday
Johnny Hallyday
Johnny Hallyday is a French singer and actor. An icon in the French-speaking world since the beginning of his career, he was considered by some to have been the French Elvis Presley. He was married for 15 years to one of the most popular French female singers: Sylvie Vartan...
, Eddy Mitchell
Eddy Mitchell
Eddy Mitchell is a French singer and actor. He began his career in the late 1950s, with the group Les Chaussettes Noires , taking his name from the American expatriate tough-guy actor Eddie Constantine...
and Jean-Jacques Goldman
Jean-Jacques Goldman
Jean-Jacques Goldman is a Grammy Awards-winning French singer-songwriter. He is hugely popular in the French-speaking world, and since 2003 was the second-highest-grossing French living pop singer, after Johnny Hallyday.- Biography :...
, as well as Sidaction
Sidaction
Sidaction is a major French public event that started in 1994 in France for raising awareness and collecting charitable funds for AIDS. It donates important sums to various AIDS charities, AIDS research, institutions specializing in medical care and social aid for those suffering of HIV/AIDS in...
and Sol En Si
Sol En Si
Sol En Si which is short for Solidarité Enfants Sida in French is a French charity organization founded in 1990 by Myriam Mercy et Alain Danand for helping children suffering from AIDS and their families....
.
In 2002 she composed a song for the France national football team
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
, to be sung by Johnny Hallyday. The same year Lara was named Officer of the Ordre de la Légion d'honneur.
Personal life
Catherine Lara is openly lesbian. When asked in a TV-show what she would look at first in a man, she answered "his wife". Nevertheless, she doesn't want to dwell on her sexual orientation, "For fifteen years I lived a love story and I didn’t tell anyone. I prefer to talk about love instead of sex. After coming out I realized that if it could do good to someone, man or woman, who feels outcast by society, fine."Discography
- Ab libitum (1972)
- Marche dans le temps (1972)
- La craie dans l'encrier (1974)
- Nil (1975)
- Jeux de société (1976)
- Babylone (1977)
- Coup d'feel (1979)
- Geronimo (1980)
- Johan (1981)
- T'es pas drôle (1982)
- La Rockeuse de Diamants (1983)
- Flamenrock/Espionne (1984)
- Nuit magique (1986)
- Encore une fois (1987)
- Rocktambule (1988)
- Sand et les romantiques (1992)
- Maldonne (1993)
- Mélomanie (1996)
- Aral (2000)
- Graal (2005)
- Passe-moi l'ciel (2005)
- Au-delà des murs (2009)
Best of
- Rock'n roll de Montréal (72–80) – double CD (1992)
- Best of Lara (72–96) (1997)
- Best of Lara (1997) – coffret 5 CDs
- Catherine Lara (2005) Textes d'Andrée Lebrun
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External links
- official website
- official website
- Biography of Catherine Lara, from Radio France InternationaleRadio France InternationaleRadio France Internationale was created in 1975 as part of Radio France by the Government of France, and replaced the Poste Colonial , Paris Mondial , Radio Paris , RTF Radio Paris and ORTF Radio Paris...
- Biography