Les Djinns Singers
Encyclopedia
The Les Djinns Singers were a French choral group with a distinctive singing style, composed of sixty girls between the ages of nine and eighteen years, conducted by Paul Bonneau
. In 1959, the French government organized a 'Master School' for the instruction of girls in musical subjects in order to ensure a supply of performance talent for the country's radio and television industry. The Master School set a course of study where the girls followed a curriculum of standard academic subjects in the morning hours, then musical courses in the afternoons consisting of scales, vocal techniques, harmony and choral vocalizing. Upon graduation, each girl was accepted into the Les Djinns Singers.
Within six weeks of the group's founding, the Les Djinns Singers were awarded the Gran Prix of the Academy of Records in France, and their popularity began to proliferate with stage appearances in France and tours in other European countries. Eventually a total of 88 tunes were recorded, including a Christmas album and an album of American favorites sung in French, and released on the ABC-Paramount label. One Les Djinns single recording, "Marie Marie" (1960), made it onto the Top 100 list.
The Les Djinns Singers never toured the United States, but two separate filmed sequences were shown within two separate Sunday-evening Ed Sullivan
variety shows.
Les Gam's issued one disc on the Vogue label, then signed with Mercury Records
for subsequent releases, their repertoire consisting almost exclusively of covers of American songs, and they enjoyed some success. Accompaniment was sometimes provided by the Les Lionceaux group.
The Les Gam's disbanded after September, 1964 following the release of "Une petite larme m’a trahie", their take on Burl Ives
' "A Little Bitty Tear" on which Annie was given top billing, with credits reading "Les Gam’s with Annie Markan".
Markan issued her first solo Extended Play
album in 1965, leading with "Quand mon ami pleure", a version of the little-known "When My Baby Cries", penned by Lesley Duncan
with French lyrics written specially for Annie by Hubert Wayaffe, presenter of Europe 1
’s "Dans le vent" program.
No mention of Les Gam's was made on the record’s sleeve and the musical style was in marked contrast to her earlier material, but Markan returned to more familiar fare for her follow-ups. Les Gam’s had enjoyed their biggest hit with "Il a le truc", a version of the Exciters’ "He’s Got the Power", so the US group’s back catalogue was adapted again for Annie.
When US singer Len Barry
scored a hit in France with "1-2-3", Mercury released Markan's "Un, deux, trois" on Extended Play along Markan’s version of Martha and the Vandellas
’ "Nowhere to Run", retitled "Mon obsession me poursuit".
Markan's final EP was released in 1966 without much success, and she was quietly dropped by the label. She is understood to have gone on to work in public relations
.
Paul Bonneau
Paul Bonneau was a French composer of classical music.-Career:...
. In 1959, the French government organized a 'Master School' for the instruction of girls in musical subjects in order to ensure a supply of performance talent for the country's radio and television industry. The Master School set a course of study where the girls followed a curriculum of standard academic subjects in the morning hours, then musical courses in the afternoons consisting of scales, vocal techniques, harmony and choral vocalizing. Upon graduation, each girl was accepted into the Les Djinns Singers.
Within six weeks of the group's founding, the Les Djinns Singers were awarded the Gran Prix of the Academy of Records in France, and their popularity began to proliferate with stage appearances in France and tours in other European countries. Eventually a total of 88 tunes were recorded, including a Christmas album and an album of American favorites sung in French, and released on the ABC-Paramount label. One Les Djinns single recording, "Marie Marie" (1960), made it onto the Top 100 list.
The Les Djinns Singers never toured the United States, but two separate filmed sequences were shown within two separate Sunday-evening Ed Sullivan
Ed Sullivan
Edward Vincent "Ed" Sullivan was an American entertainment writer and television host, best known as the presenter of the TV variety show The Ed Sullivan Show. The show was broadcast from 1948 to 1971 , which made it one of the longest-running variety shows in U.S...
variety shows.
Les Gam's
Several of Les Djinn Singers graduates continued on with separate recording careers. In September 1962, Les Djinn Singers' lead soloist Annie Markan and three other members of the group – Graziella, Michèle and Suzie – formed the vocal quarter Les Gam’s. (The name was derived from the first letter of each girl’s name plus the added apostrophe to add a fashionable touch.)Les Gam's issued one disc on the Vogue label, then signed with Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
for subsequent releases, their repertoire consisting almost exclusively of covers of American songs, and they enjoyed some success. Accompaniment was sometimes provided by the Les Lionceaux group.
The Les Gam's disbanded after September, 1964 following the release of "Une petite larme m’a trahie", their take on Burl Ives
Burl Ives
Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives was an American actor, writer and folk music singer. As an actor, Ives's work included comedies, dramas, and voice work in theater, television, and motion pictures. Music critic John Rockwell said, "Ives's voice .....
' "A Little Bitty Tear" on which Annie was given top billing, with credits reading "Les Gam’s with Annie Markan".
Markan issued her first solo Extended Play
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
album in 1965, leading with "Quand mon ami pleure", a version of the little-known "When My Baby Cries", penned by Lesley Duncan
Lesley Duncan
Lesley Duncan was an English singer-songwriter, best known for her work during the 1970s. She received a lot of airplay on British radio stations such as BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2, but never achieved great commercial success.Duncan was born in Stockton-on-Tees...
with French lyrics written specially for Annie by Hubert Wayaffe, presenter of Europe 1
Europe 1
Europe 1, formerly known as Europe n° 1, is a privately owned radio network created in 1955. It is one of the leading French radio broadcasters and heard throughout France...
’s "Dans le vent" program.
No mention of Les Gam's was made on the record’s sleeve and the musical style was in marked contrast to her earlier material, but Markan returned to more familiar fare for her follow-ups. Les Gam’s had enjoyed their biggest hit with "Il a le truc", a version of the Exciters’ "He’s Got the Power", so the US group’s back catalogue was adapted again for Annie.
When US singer Len Barry
Len Barry
Len Barry is a retired American vocalist, songwriter and record producer.-Career:...
scored a hit in France with "1-2-3", Mercury released Markan's "Un, deux, trois" on Extended Play along Markan’s version of Martha and the Vandellas
Martha and the Vandellas
Martha and the Vandellas were among the most successful groups of the Motown roster during the period 1963–1967...
’ "Nowhere to Run", retitled "Mon obsession me poursuit".
Markan's final EP was released in 1966 without much success, and she was quietly dropped by the label. She is understood to have gone on to work in public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
.