Pierre Barouh
Encyclopedia
Pierre Barouh is a French writer-composer-singer best known for his work on Claude Lelouch's film A Man and a Woman
both as actor, and as lyric writer/singer for Francis Lai
's music for the film.
Élie Barouh, his brother and sister, were raised in Levallois-Perret
, (their parents were stallholders selling fabrics), until the outbreak of the Second World War. During the war their parents hid them in Montournais
in the Vendée
. During these years Élie, baptised Pierre, drew the inspiration for songs like "À bicyclette", "Des ronds dans l'eau", "Les Filles du dimanche". After the war he was a sports journalist and played for the national volley-ball team. He spent some months in Portugal and discovered Brazilian song. He visited Brazil and on his return to Paris got to know the principal Brazilian writers and composers of bossa nova
.
. As writer/performer he had success with La Plage – immortalised by Marie Laforêt
and the guitarist Claude Ciari -, Tes dix-huit ans and Monsieur de Furstenberg. He shot a documentary on the beginnings of bossa nova with his longtime friend Baden Powell de Aquino
.
In 1966 he participated in the enormous success of the film A Man and a Woman
which won the Palme d'Or
at the 1966 Festival de Cannes
. He married the actress Anouk Aimée
the same year; they divorced three years later. With his earnings he bought the mill by the river in the Vendée
where he had spent part of his childhood. There he established a recording studio and welcomed other artists, using it to advance the talent of others and creating his own label Saravah
. With the label he wished to mix musicians and styles, to multiply musical encounters. He worked, notably, with Pierre Akendengué
, Areski Belkacem, Brigitte Fontaine
, Nana Vasconcelos
, Gérard Ansaloni, Jacques Higelin
, Alfred Panou, Maurane
, David McNeil.
A Man and a Woman
A Man and a Woman is a 1966 French film, written by Claude Lelouch and Pierre Uytterhoeven, and directed by Lelouch. It is notable for its lush photography , which features frequent segues between full color, black-and-white, and sepia-toned shots, and for its memorable musical score by Francis Lai...
both as actor, and as lyric writer/singer for Francis Lai
Francis Lai
Francis Lai is a French accordionist, and composer noted for his film scores.While in his twenties, Francis Lai left home and went to Paris where he became part of the lively Montmartre music scene...
's music for the film.
Élie Barouh, his brother and sister, were raised in Levallois-Perret
Levallois-Perret
Levallois-Perret is a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris.-Name:The name Levallois-Perret comes from two housing developments, Champerret and Village Levallois , and which resulted in the incorporation of the...
, (their parents were stallholders selling fabrics), until the outbreak of the Second World War. During the war their parents hid them in Montournais
Montournais
Montournais is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France....
in the Vendée
Vendée
The Vendée is a department in the Pays-de-la-Loire region in west central France, on the Atlantic Ocean. The name Vendée is taken from the Vendée river which runs through the south-eastern part of the department.-History:...
. During these years Élie, baptised Pierre, drew the inspiration for songs like "À bicyclette", "Des ronds dans l'eau", "Les Filles du dimanche". After the war he was a sports journalist and played for the national volley-ball team. He spent some months in Portugal and discovered Brazilian song. He visited Brazil and on his return to Paris got to know the principal Brazilian writers and composers of bossa nova
Bossa nova
Bossa nova is a style of Brazilian music. Bossa nova acquired a large following in the 1960s, initially consisting of young musicians and college students...
.
Cinema and Theatre
As an actor, he played the role of the gipsy leader in the film D'ou viens-tu Johnny? and appeared in Lelouch's Une fille et des fusilsUne fille et des fusils
Une fille et des fusils is a French film, directed by Claude Lelouch, released in 1964.-Synopsis:Four young people, tired of working life, decide that they can earn money from crime than they can from work...
. As writer/performer he had success with La Plage – immortalised by Marie Laforêt
Marie Laforêt
Marie Laforêt is a French singer and actress, .In 1978 she moved to Geneva, Switzerland and took out Swiss nationality.-The sources of her birth name:...
and the guitarist Claude Ciari -, Tes dix-huit ans and Monsieur de Furstenberg. He shot a documentary on the beginnings of bossa nova with his longtime friend Baden Powell de Aquino
Baden Powell de Aquino
Baden Powell de Aquino usually known simply as Baden Powell, was one of the greatest Brazilian guitarists. He explored the instrument to its utmost limits, playing it in a distinctive, unique manner, incorporating virtuoso classical techniques together with popular harmony and swing...
.
In 1966 he participated in the enormous success of the film A Man and a Woman
A Man and a Woman
A Man and a Woman is a 1966 French film, written by Claude Lelouch and Pierre Uytterhoeven, and directed by Lelouch. It is notable for its lush photography , which features frequent segues between full color, black-and-white, and sepia-toned shots, and for its memorable musical score by Francis Lai...
which won the Palme d'Or
Palme d'Or
The Palme d'Or is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival and is presented to the director of the best feature film of the official competition. It was introduced in 1955 by the organising committee. From 1939 to 1954, the highest prize was the Grand Prix du Festival International du...
at the 1966 Festival de Cannes
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
. He married the actress Anouk Aimée
Anouk Aimée
Anouk Aimée is a French film actress. Aimée has appeared in 70 films since 1947. She began her film career in 1947 at age 14. In 1958 she portrayed the tragic artist Jeanne Hébuterne in the film Les Amants de Montparnasse...
the same year; they divorced three years later. With his earnings he bought the mill by the river in the Vendée
Vendée
The Vendée is a department in the Pays-de-la-Loire region in west central France, on the Atlantic Ocean. The name Vendée is taken from the Vendée river which runs through the south-eastern part of the department.-History:...
where he had spent part of his childhood. There he established a recording studio and welcomed other artists, using it to advance the talent of others and creating his own label Saravah
Saravah
Saravah is a French record label founded by musician Pierre Barouh in 1965.Some artists who have released albums on Saravah include:*Brigitte Fontaine*Areski Belkacem*Jacques Higelin*Pierre Akendengué*Jean-Roger Caussimon...
. With the label he wished to mix musicians and styles, to multiply musical encounters. He worked, notably, with Pierre Akendengué
Pierre Akendengué
Pierre-Claver Akendengué is a musician and composer of Gabon. In 1997, he received his country's "Prix d'excellence" at the Africa Music awards in Libreville, honoring his body of work...
, Areski Belkacem, Brigitte Fontaine
Brigitte Fontaine
Brigitte Fontaine, born in 1939 in Morlaix in the Brittany region of France, is a singer of avant-garde music. During the course of her career she has employed numerous unusual musical styles, melding rock and roll, folk, jazz, electronica, spoken word poetry and world rhythms...
, Nana Vasconcelos
Naná Vasconcelos
Naná Vasconcelos is a Brazilian Latin jazz percussionist, vocalist and berimbau player, most notable for his works with Pat Metheny, Don Cherry, Egberto Gismonti, and Gato Barbieri....
, Gérard Ansaloni, Jacques Higelin
Jacques Higelin
Jacques Joseph Victor Higelin is a French pop singer who rose to prominence in the early 1970s. Early in his career, many of Higelin's songs were effectively blacklisted from French radio because of his controversial left wing political beliefs, and his association with socialist groups...
, Alfred Panou, Maurane
Maurane
Maurane, real name Claudine Luypaerts, is a Belgian singer. She lives currently in Schaerbeek.Maurane was born at Ixelles. Her father was director in the Académie de Musique de Verviers, and when she was a teenager she took part in several musical contests...
, David McNeil.