Jean Gabilou

Last updated
Jean Gabilou
Birth nameGabriel Lewis Laughlin
Also known asGabilou
Born (1944-02-28) 28 February 1944 (age 80)
Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia, France
Origin French Polynesia
OccupationMusician

Jean Gabilou (born Gabriel Lewis Laughlin on 28 February 1944) is a Tahiti based singer who represented France in the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest.

Contents

Early life

Born into a family of ten children, he grew up in Papeete, Tahiti until the age of 13, before moving to Faa'a with his family. [1] He is of Polynesian descent. [2]

In 1963, a friend, Raoul Robert, asked him to sing a melody at the Matavai Hotel. He then interpreted two waltzes and the religious song "When The Saints Go Marching In" in rock version. The same evening he received his first contract, for 60 francs an hour. He first worked with the Vernaudon brothers for two years, then started performing at the Pitate Club with the Hars Brothers for another two years. Laughlin was then approached by Petiot, a guitarist for a group called The Barefoot Boys, which he joined at the age of 23. However, in 1968, Laughlin left the group. [1]

Career

Following his departure from the Barefoot Boys, Laughlin founded the Banjo Boys, a group formed with his friends Kitty Salmon, Jacky Bougues, Marius Charles and Michael Garcia. Their song "Little Sacred Island" was released in 1968 and sold 54,000 copies.

In 1971, he sang at the hotel Tahara'a and was noticed by a lady named Paulette Vienot who, during that year, gets Laughlin signed for a contract in Paris with Eddie Barclay [1] compiling the song "Moi girls". Which did not meet the expected success that was hoped.

In 1979, he moved to the United States. Two years later, he was contacted to represent France in the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Humanahum". He finished third with 125 points, seven points behind Germany's Lena Valaitis and eleven points behind the United Kingdom's Bucks Fizz, who won the contest. [3] [4]

In 1983, he celebrated his twenty-year career in Papeete. In 1985, he married Moeata Sasson, [1] an accomplished dancer for the Tahitian dance troupe "Tamari'i Fautaua. A few years later, Moeata staged her own dance troupe "Tamari'i Poerava", whose dancers then began performing alongside Gabilou. In early 2018, he recorded the song "Source de ma vie" ("Source of My Life". [5] ) in a duet with New Caledonian singer Claudia Haustien. [6]

Later life

In 1993 he returned on stage with "Hei No". However, in 1995, feeling ill, Gabilou went to a medical clinic in Papeete where he was diagnosed with having paralyzed vocal cords. Despite the bad news, he fought to regain his voice and left for France where he met speech therapist Dr Veil. [1] After attending numerous rehabilitation sessions he regained his voice and released the album "Rohipehe"

In 2000 Gabilou decided to produce his own songs together with his friend and singer Andy Tupaia. Along with John Marote Mariassouce, the song "Fakateretere" featured on the album with the same name, was produced. It sold 20,000 copies and continues to be recognised throughout the Pacific as his signature song.

Gabilou continues to perform on stage. In 2001 and 2002 he was invited to Rarotonga, Cook Islands where he had also lived previously, to sing in front of 3500 people.

In 2003 he performed at the Oscars of Polynesian music. On 8 June 2013 he celebrated his 50th year in the industry with a concert in Pape'ete's House of Culture. [7]

Discography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">French Polynesia</span> Overseas French territory

French Polynesia is an overseas collectivity of France and its sole overseas country. It comprises 121 geographically dispersed islands and atolls stretching over more than 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) in the South Pacific Ocean. The total land area of French Polynesia is 3,521 square kilometres (1,359 sq mi), with a population of 278,786 of which at least 205,000 live in the Society Islands and the remaining population lives in the rest of the archipelago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Papeete</span> Capital city of French Polynesia

Papeete is the capital city of French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of the French Republic in the Pacific Ocean. The commune of Papeete is located on the island of Tahiti, in the administrative subdivision of the Windward Islands, of which Papeete is the administrative capital. Both the President of French Polynesia and French High Commissioner reside in Papeete.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oscar Temaru</span> Former President of French Polynesia

Oscar Manutahi Temaru is a Tahitian politician. He has been President of French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France, on five occasions: in 2004, from 2005 to 2006, from 2007 to 2008, in 2009, and from 2011 to 2013 and mayor of Faa'a since 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merci, Chérie</span> 1966 song by Udo Jürgens

"Merci, Chérie" is a song composed and recorded by Austrian singer Udo Jürgens with lyrics by himself and Thomas Hörbiger. It represented Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest 1966, held in Luxembourg, resulting in the country's first ever win at the contest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Un banc, un arbre, une rue</span> 1971 song by Séverine

"Un banc, un arbre, une rue" is a song recorded by French singer Séverine, with music composed by Jean-Pierre Bourtayre and French lyrics written by Yves Dessca. It represented Monaco in the Eurovision Song Contest 1971 held in Dublin, resulting in the country's only ever win in the contest.

Luxembourg was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1992 with the song "Sou fräi", written by Jang Linster and Ab van Goor, and performed by Marion Welter and the band Kontinent. The Luxembourgish participating broadcaster, the Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion (CLT), selected its entry through a national final, after having previously selected the performer internally.

France was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1981 with the song "Humanahum", composed by Jean-Paul Cara, with lyrics by Joe Gracy, and performed by Jean Gabilou. The French participating broadcaster, Télévision Française 1 (TF1), selected its entry through a national final.

Marie Mariterangi, Marie Mariteragi, Marie Terangi or Marie was a singer, songwriter of Polynesian pop music, guitarist and ukulele player. She was born on May 3, 1926 in Hikueru in French Polynesia and died on April 27, 1971 in Papeete in French Polynesia.

Maco Tevane, real name Marc Maamaatuaiahutapu was a French Polynesian author, playwright, and politician who served as Minister of Culture in the government of Gaston Flosse in the 1990s. He was a defender of Polynesian culture and the Tahitian language and is considered the founding father of popular Tahitian theatre. He was the father of politician Heremoana Maamaatuaiahutapu and TNTV director Mateata Maamaatuaiahutapu.

Tumata Robinson is a French Polynesian dancer and choreographer. She is the founder of the Tahiti Ora dance troupe, and cofounder of the 'Ori Tahiti Nui dance competition. She was the daughter of American sailor and Legion of Honour recipient William Albert Robinson.

Tommy Tihoni is a French Polynesian model and dancer. He won the Ori Tahiti Nui world championship in 2016.

Madeleine Teroroheiarii Moua was a French Polynesian dance troupe leader and major choreographer of Tahitian dance. She was the founder of the Heiva troupe. She was descended from the Tahitian royal family.

Marguerite Lai is a French Polynesian dancer and choreographer. She is the leader of O Tahiti E, one of French Polynesia's most renowned dance troupes.

Teina Maraeura was a French Polynesian politician and Cabinet minister who served as Mayor of Rangiroa from 1986 to 2021, when he was barred from office after being convicted of corruption.

Stella Taaroamea is a French Polynesian journalist and broadcaster who is editor-in-chief of Polynésie la 1ère.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chief Miko</span>

Michel Toofa Pouira Krainer, known as Chief Miko is a French Polynesian speaker, sculptor, traditional navigator, musician, singer, customary chief and activist. He played a major role in the Polynesian cultural revival, particularly in the revival of Polynesian tattoos.

Henri Hiro was a poet, playwright and film director from French Polynesia. He was a pioneer of Polynesian poetry and theatre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barthélémy (singer)</span> French Polynesian musician (1956–2015)

Barthélémy Tugarue Arakino or Barthélémy was a French Polynesian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and ukulele player. He recorded two hundred songs on fifteen albums during his career, and along with Angelo, Bobby Holcomb, and Jean Gabilou, he was considered one of the most popular Polynesian singers of his generation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theo Sulpice</span> Musical artist

Théophile Tanaapupa Sulpice, better known under the name Théo Sulpice, is a French Polynesian singer-songwriter and leader of a Polynesian dance troupe. Since the end of the 1980s, he has been the main ambassador of Polynesian culture internationally.

<i>Coco Hotahota Te Maeva</i> 2020 French Polynesian film

Coco Hotahota Te Maeva is a French feature-length documentary dedicated to the dancer, choreographer, troupe leader and musician Coco Hotahota, the major artist of Polynesian dance. Directed by Jonathan Bougard, it was broadcast for the first time on television as a tribute to the choreographer the day after his death on the Polynesian channel TNTV.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Semaine 47 / 2007 : Tous les messages - Tiwan". Tiwan.canalblog.com. 2007-11-13. Retrieved 2014-03-24.
  2. ↑ La1ere.francetvinfo.fr, 02/05/2017 - nouvelle calédonie, Dans l'intimité de Gabilou Par Françoise Tromeur
  3. ↑ "Eurovision Song Contest 1981 | Year page | Eurovision Song Contest - Copenhagen 2014". Eurovision.tv. Retrieved 2014-03-24.
  4. ↑ "EUROVISION Britain wins contest". Canberra Times. 6 April 1981. p. 5. Retrieved 25 June 2022– via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ Tahiti Infos, January 31, 2018 - (TRANSLATED) - Music: The Caledonian walk of Gabilou and Claudia Haustien - Written by Jacques Franc de Ferrière
  6. ↑ Tahiti Infos, 31 janvier 2018 - Musique : la balade calédonienne de Gabilou et Claudia Haustien - Rédigé par Jacques Franc de Ferrière
  7. ↑ "Concert Gabilou : 50 ans déjà" (in French). Tahiti Infos. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
Preceded by France in the Eurovision Song Contest
1981 		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.