Bruno Coquatrix (French pronunciation: [bʁynokɔkatʁi] ; 5 August 1910, Ronchin, Nord – 1 April 1979) was a French record producer, the owner and manager of Olympia in Paris from 1954 until his death in 1979.
Bruno Coquatrix (French pronunciation: [bʁynokɔkatʁi] ; 5 August 1910, Ronchin, Nord – 1 April 1979) was a French record producer, the owner and manager of Olympia in Paris from 1954 until his death in 1979.
Coquatrix was first known as a song and music writer. He wrote over 300 songs, including Mon ange (1940) ; Dans un coin de mon pays (1940); [1] Clopin-clopant (1947); Cheveux dans le vent (1949), as well as some operettas. He was also an impresario, representing Jacques Pills and Lucienne Boyer, among others.
He managed the variety theatre Bobino before he took over the Olympia Hall, Europe's biggest music hall in 1954. In 1956, during a "tomorrow's number 1" audition at the Olympia, Coquatrix, Lucien Morrisse and Eddie Barclay discovered the unknown cabaret singer Dalida. [2] He then staged all the era's celebrities, including Georges Brassens, Jacques Brel, Gilbert Bécaud, Ewa Demarczyk, Johnny Hallyday, Violetta Villas, Édith Piaf, Annie Cordy, Charles Aznavour, Mireille Mathieu and Yves Montand.
Bruno Coquatrix co-founded a record company, the Disques Versailles.
Bruno Coquatrix was the director of the casino of Cabourg (Calvados) in the 1950s, and the mayor of Cabourg from 1971 until his death in 1979. [3] [4] His mandate as Mayor of Cabourg was focused on the development of tourism and real estate, and the growth of Cabourg's sister cities (+11 during his mandate). [4]
Coquatrix was married to Paulette Coquatrix. [5]
He was the best man of Henri Betti in 1949 and André Hornez in 1963 who were the authors of C'est si bon . [6] Coquatrix was buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery (division 96). In November 2010, the newly-named street "Rue Bruno Coquatrix" was inaugurated in Paris next to the Olympia Hall. [7] In Calbourg where he was Mayor, the downtown square, "Place Bruno Coquatrix", was named after him, and a "Bruno Coquatrix Stèle" stands in the middle of the square. [4]
Ivo Livi, better known as Yves Montand, was an Italian-born French actor and singer. He is said to be one of France's greatest 20th-century artists.
Iolanda Cristina Gigliotti, professionally known as Dalida, was a French singer and actress, born in Egypt to Italian parents. Leading an international career, Dalida has sold over 140 million records worldwide. Her best known songs include "Bambino", "Gondolier", "Les enfants du Pirée", "Le temps des fleurs", "Darla dirladada", "J'attendrai", "Le jour où la pluie viendra", "Gigi l'amoroso", "Laissez-moi danser", "Salama ya salama", "Helwa ya baladi", and "Paroles, paroles" featuring spoken word by Alain Delon.
The Olympia is a concert venue in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, France, located at 28 Boulevard des Capucines, equally distancing Madeleine church and Opéra Garnier, 300 metres (980 ft) north of Vendôme square. Its closest métro/RER stations are Madeleine, Opéra, Havre–Caumartin, and Auber.
François Gilbert Léopold Silly, known professionally as Gilbert Bécaud, was a French singer, composer, pianist and actor, known as "Monsieur 100,000 Volts" for his energetic performances. His best-known hits are "Nathalie" and "Et maintenant", a 1961 release that became an English language hit as "What Now My Love". He remained a popular artist for nearly fifty years, identifiable in his dark blue suits, with a white shirt and "lucky tie"; blue with white polka dots. When asked to explain his gift he said, "A flower doesn't understand botany." His favourite venue was the Paris Olympia under the management of Bruno Coquatrix. He debuted there in 1954 and headlined in 1955, attracting 6,000 on his first night, three times the capacity. On 13 November 1997, Bécaud was present for the re-opening of the venue after its reconstruction.
Claude Nougaro was a French jazz singer and poet.
Cabourg is a commune in the Calvados department, region of Normandy, France. Cabourg is on the coast of the English Channel, at the mouth of the river Dives. The back country is a plain, favourable to the culture of cereal. The town sits on the Côte Fleurie and its population increases by over 40,000 during the summer.
Gaston Ghrenassia , known by his stage name Enrico Macias, is a French singer, songwriter and musician of Algerian Jewish descent.
Edith Lefel was a French singer.
En Direct de L'Olympia was the first album released by French singer Mireille Mathieu after her television amateur contest success in November 1965, and debut performance at the Paris Olympia in December.
Michèle Torr is a French singer and author, best known in non-Francophone countries for her participation in the Eurovision Song Contest for Luxembourg in 1966 and for Monaco in 1977.
Jean-Claude Grumberg is a French playwright and author of children's books.
Henri Betti, born Ange Betti, was a French composer and a pianist.
Pia Colombo was a French singer of Franco-Italian origin, been born Eliane Marie Amélie Pia Colombo who acted in radio, cinema and television between 1956 and 1981.
Paulette Coquatrix was a French costume designer.
Jean-Michel Boris was a French artistic director. He was Director General of the concert hall Olympia from 1979 to 2001.
Le Tour de Chant d'Édith Piaf a l'Olympia - No. 1 is an album from Édith Piaf recorded live at L'Olympia in Paris in 1955. Piaf was accompanied by the Orchestre Et Choeurs conducted by Robert Chauvigny. The album was released on the Columbia label. The cover illustration was by d'Henri Favre.
Le Tour de Chant d'Édith Piaf a l'Olympia - No. 2 is an album from Édith Piaf recorded live at L'Olympia in Paris in 1955. Piaf was accompanied by the Orchestre Et Choeurs conducted by Robert Chauvigny. The album was released on the Columbia label.
Le Tour de Chant d'Édith Piaf a l'Olympia - No. 3 is an album from Édith Piaf recorded live at L'Olympia in Paris in 1958. The album was released on the Columbia label.
Eugène Baudouin was a French painter and printmaker.
