Jean-Philippe Léo Smet, known as Johnny Hallyday (/ˈhɔːlɪdeɪ/, HALL-id-AY; … Read Full Bio ↴Jean-Philippe Léo Smet, known as Johnny Hallyday (/ˈhɔːlɪdeɪ/, HALL-id-AY; born 15 June 1943 in Paris – died 5 December 2017 in Marnes-la-Coquette), was a French singer, songwriter and actor. Influenced by Elvis Presley and the 1950s rock 'n' roll revolution, Hallyday became famous in the 1960s for singing rock 'n' roll in French.
Hallyday's father, Léon Smet (1908–1989), was Belgian; his mother, Huguette Clerc (1920–2007), was French. Born in Paris, Hallyday took his stage name from his aunt Desta's husband and dance partner Lee Hallyday, a pseudonym for Lee Ketcham, an expatriate Oklahoman, performer, and MC at the Café de Paris where Johnny began his singing career. Johnny was raised by Desta and Lee from a very young age, with Lee being his first manager. Johnny was always very loyal to Lee and secured him a permanent job as a producer and A&R man with his label, Philips Records until Lee's retirement and relocation back to Oklahoma.
His debut single, "Laisse les filles" was released on the Vogue label in March 1960. His first album, Hello Johnny, was released in 1960. In 1961 his cover of "Let's Twist Again" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. It topped almost every European chart, although the track did not appear in the UK Singles Chart. He appeared on the American The Ed Sullivan Show with American singing star Connie Francis in a show that was taped at the Moulin Rouge nightclub in Paris. He also staged many appearances in the Paris Olympia under the management of the late Bruno Coquatrix. For their first concert, The Jimi Hendrix Experience opened for Johnny Hallyday in Évreux on 13 October 1966. Black-and-white footage, also from October 1966, exists of Hallyday partying with Hendrix, his manager Chas Chandler and others. There also is a widely published monochrome photograph of Hallyday walking somewhere in Paris in late May 1966 with Bob Dylan.
At the end of the 1960s, Hallyday made a string of albums with Mick Jones and Tommy Brown as musical directors, and Big Jim Sullivan, Bobby Graham and Jimmy Page as session musicians. These are Jeune Homme, Rivière... Ouvre ton Lit (a.k.a. Je suis né dans la rue) and Vie. On Je suis né dans la rue, Hallyday also hired both Peter Frampton and the Small Faces. Amongst their contributions are the songs Amen (Bang Bang), Reclamation (News Report), and Regarde Pour Moi (What You Will), which are variations of Small Faces and Humble Pie (Frampton's band) songs—tracks and they all play on the album. Often forgotten is Hallyday's non-LP single and EP track Que Je T'aime from the same sessions. By 1969 alone, his sales of records exceeded twelve million.
One of Hallyday's later concerts, 100% Johnny: Live à La Tour Eiffel in 2000, attracted an audience of 500,000 and 9.5 million television viewers (the show was broadcast live on French TV). In December 2005, Hallyday had his third number-one single in France, "Mon Plus Beau Noël" (after "Tous ensemble" and "Marie"), dedicated to his adopted daughter Jade. Shortly before announcing his retirement from touring, he released a blues-flavored album, Le Cœur d'un homme, on 12 November 2007. The album hit No. 1 in both France and French-speaking Belgium. In addition to the lead single "Always", Le Cœur d'un homme features "T'aimer si mal", a duet with bluesman Taj Mahal and "I Am the Blues", an English-language song written for Hallyday by U2's lead singer Bono. His next album, Ça ne finira jamais, released in 2008, another No. 1 on the French album chart, and its lead single, "Ça n'finira jamais", also reached No. 1. In 2008 he recorded a series of acoustic songs with French musician Drexl Jonez. Hallyday's most recent album, also a No. 1 hit in France, is Tour 66: Stade de France 2009, a live set recorded at Stade de France during his farewell tour with appearances by Drexl Jonez on the guitar.
French movie producers Michèle and Laurent Pétin introduced Johnny Hallyday to Hong Kong film director Johnnie To. Hallyday was cast as the main role of To's Vengeance after meeting with the director in early 2008. The shooting began in November 2008 and concluded in February 2009.
He was married for 15 years to popular Bulgarian-French singer Sylvie Vartan and the two were considered a "golden couple" for 20 years.
Hallyday completed 181 tours, had 18 platinum albums, and sold more than 110 million records worldwide, making him one of the world's best-selling artists of all time.
Hallyday remains largely unknown outside the Francophone world, thus earning the nickname "the biggest rock star you've never heard of" in English-speaking countries.
On December 5th, 2017 Hallyday died, at age 74, in Marnes-la-Coquette, France.
Hallyday's father, Léon Smet (1908–1989), was Belgian; his mother, Huguette Clerc (1920–2007), was French. Born in Paris, Hallyday took his stage name from his aunt Desta's husband and dance partner Lee Hallyday, a pseudonym for Lee Ketcham, an expatriate Oklahoman, performer, and MC at the Café de Paris where Johnny began his singing career. Johnny was raised by Desta and Lee from a very young age, with Lee being his first manager. Johnny was always very loyal to Lee and secured him a permanent job as a producer and A&R man with his label, Philips Records until Lee's retirement and relocation back to Oklahoma.
His debut single, "Laisse les filles" was released on the Vogue label in March 1960. His first album, Hello Johnny, was released in 1960. In 1961 his cover of "Let's Twist Again" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. It topped almost every European chart, although the track did not appear in the UK Singles Chart. He appeared on the American The Ed Sullivan Show with American singing star Connie Francis in a show that was taped at the Moulin Rouge nightclub in Paris. He also staged many appearances in the Paris Olympia under the management of the late Bruno Coquatrix. For their first concert, The Jimi Hendrix Experience opened for Johnny Hallyday in Évreux on 13 October 1966. Black-and-white footage, also from October 1966, exists of Hallyday partying with Hendrix, his manager Chas Chandler and others. There also is a widely published monochrome photograph of Hallyday walking somewhere in Paris in late May 1966 with Bob Dylan.
At the end of the 1960s, Hallyday made a string of albums with Mick Jones and Tommy Brown as musical directors, and Big Jim Sullivan, Bobby Graham and Jimmy Page as session musicians. These are Jeune Homme, Rivière... Ouvre ton Lit (a.k.a. Je suis né dans la rue) and Vie. On Je suis né dans la rue, Hallyday also hired both Peter Frampton and the Small Faces. Amongst their contributions are the songs Amen (Bang Bang), Reclamation (News Report), and Regarde Pour Moi (What You Will), which are variations of Small Faces and Humble Pie (Frampton's band) songs—tracks and they all play on the album. Often forgotten is Hallyday's non-LP single and EP track Que Je T'aime from the same sessions. By 1969 alone, his sales of records exceeded twelve million.
One of Hallyday's later concerts, 100% Johnny: Live à La Tour Eiffel in 2000, attracted an audience of 500,000 and 9.5 million television viewers (the show was broadcast live on French TV). In December 2005, Hallyday had his third number-one single in France, "Mon Plus Beau Noël" (after "Tous ensemble" and "Marie"), dedicated to his adopted daughter Jade. Shortly before announcing his retirement from touring, he released a blues-flavored album, Le Cœur d'un homme, on 12 November 2007. The album hit No. 1 in both France and French-speaking Belgium. In addition to the lead single "Always", Le Cœur d'un homme features "T'aimer si mal", a duet with bluesman Taj Mahal and "I Am the Blues", an English-language song written for Hallyday by U2's lead singer Bono. His next album, Ça ne finira jamais, released in 2008, another No. 1 on the French album chart, and its lead single, "Ça n'finira jamais", also reached No. 1. In 2008 he recorded a series of acoustic songs with French musician Drexl Jonez. Hallyday's most recent album, also a No. 1 hit in France, is Tour 66: Stade de France 2009, a live set recorded at Stade de France during his farewell tour with appearances by Drexl Jonez on the guitar.
French movie producers Michèle and Laurent Pétin introduced Johnny Hallyday to Hong Kong film director Johnnie To. Hallyday was cast as the main role of To's Vengeance after meeting with the director in early 2008. The shooting began in November 2008 and concluded in February 2009.
He was married for 15 years to popular Bulgarian-French singer Sylvie Vartan and the two were considered a "golden couple" for 20 years.
Hallyday completed 181 tours, had 18 platinum albums, and sold more than 110 million records worldwide, making him one of the world's best-selling artists of all time.
Hallyday remains largely unknown outside the Francophone world, thus earning the nickname "the biggest rock star you've never heard of" in English-speaking countries.
On December 5th, 2017 Hallyday died, at age 74, in Marnes-la-Coquette, France.
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Les N°1
Johnny Hallyday Lyrics
Amour d'été Amour d'été on le dit Ne peut pas durer Ce n'est pas…
Ceux Que L'Amour A Blessés Comme des revenants de guerre Comme des revenants du front I…
Da Dou Ron Ron Quand l'amour s'en va, adieu, tout est fini Da dou ron…
Derrière L'Amour Derrière l'amour il y a Toute une chaîne de pourquoi Questio…
Deux Amis Pour Un Amour On avait grandi ensemble et maintenant tu es là Tu dors…
Entre Mes Mains Combien de capitaines Et combien de soldats Qu'ils soient de…
Gabrielle Gabrielle, tu brûles mon esprit, ton amour étrangle ma vie E…
Hey Joe Hey Joe Cours pas comme ça, dis, y a pas…
J'Ai Oublié De Vivre À force de briser dans mes mains des guitares Sur des…
J'Oublierai Ton Nom De semaines inutiles en futiles dimanches De secondes immobi…
Je l'aime Mon histoire est une histoire comme on en voit tous…
Je Te Promets Je te promets le sel au baiser de ma bouche Je…
Jésus Christ S'il existe encore aujourd'hui Il doit vivre aux Etats-Unis…
L'Envie Qu'on me donne l'obscurité puis la lumière Qu'on me donne la…
L'Idole Des Jeunes Les gens m'appellent l'idole des jeunes Il en est même qui…
La Musique Que J'Aime Toute la musique que j'aime, Elle vient de là, elle vient…
Le Chanteur Abandonné Y a des flat-case qui traînent sur scène Et on démonte…
Le Pénitencier Les portes du pénitencier Bientôt vont se fermer Et c'est là…
Les Mauvais Garçons Les mauvais garçons S'ils donnent des coups Ne sont pas méch…
Ma gueule Quoi ma gueule? Qu'est-ce qu'elle a ma gueule? Quelque chose…
Marie - Master Mix Ô Marie, si tu savais Tout le mal que l'on me…
Mirador C'est la nuit dans le quartier des fous Les matons ont…
Mon plus beau Noël J'avais oublié à quel point on se sent petit Dans les…
Noël interdit C'est un Noël pour les enfants perdus Pour tous ceux qui…
Noir C'Est Noir Noir c'est noir Il n'y a plus d'espoir Oui, gris c'est gris …
Oh Ma Jolie Sarah Oh! Ma jolie Sarah, combien de temps encore Oh! Ma jolie…
Pas cette chanson Pas cette chanson Pas cette chanson Pas cette chanson Non, n…
Prends Ma Vie Je n'ai jamais mis les pieds dans une église Je ne…
Quand Revient La Nuit La nuit Quand revient la nuit Tout seul je m'ennuie Je pense…
Quelque Chose De Tennessee À vous autres, hommes faibles et merveilleux Qui mettez tant…
Requiem Pour Un Fou Je vous préviens, n'approchez pas Que vous soyez flic ou bad…
Sang Pour Sang J'ai pas toujours trouvé les mots Pour bercer tes rêves d'en…
Si j'étais un charpentier Si j'étais un charpentier Si tu t'appelais Marie Voudrais-tu…
Si J'Etais Un Charpentier Si j'étais un charpentier Si tu t'appelais Marie Voudrais-…
Un Jour Viendra Un jour viendra tu me diras "je t'aime" Du bout du…
Viens danser le twist Venez les copains Tapez des mains On va faire le…
Vivre Pour Le Meilleur Des gens qui cherchent la lumière En pleine nuit Des…