Jean-Jacques Goldman (1951-) is a singer-songwriter and producer of Jewish German-Polish heritage. His musical education as a child progressed from violin to piano to guitar. His active performing years extended from beginnings in 1975 until his voluntary retirement in 2004. His solo career established him as one of the most popular pop rock singers of his generation.

During the mid-1980s he released albums and singles that reached the heights of French charts. Goldman had an ironic, self-deprecating streak that suggested some defensiveness regarding media reaction to his music and personal demeanor. This trait appeared in some preferred titles he offered for his albums. His studio label rejected his suggestion for the title of his first solo album in 1981(“Demodé”) (“old-fashioned,” “obsolete”) although the album launched his career and the name later stuck. The same song-and-dance occurred with his second album (“Minoritaire”) in 1982. He turned the tables with a more upbeat title for his third album in 1984 (“Positif”), but relapsed in 1985 with his fourth album (“Non-homologué”)(“not approved”). His last (double) album during this period (in 1987) carried a more intriguing banner (“Entre gris clair et gris foncé”) and sold 2 million copies.

​Nevertheless, these albums produced a string of strong sales and hugely popular singles. These included “Il suffira d’un signe,” "Quand la musique est bonne", "Comme toi," "Au bout de mes rêves," “Envole-moi,” “Je te donne,” “Puisque tu pars,” “La-bàs,” and "Il changeait la vie."

​Goldman was a prolific songwriter both for himself and for others. In 1986 he wrote the entire 10-track “Gang” album for Johnny Hallyday, and did the same for Celine Dion’s albums “D’eux” in 1995 and “Il suffirait d’aimer” in 1998. 

Between 1990 and 1995, he transitioned to performing in a trio called “Fredericks Goldman Jones” with Carole Fredericks and Michael Jones. From 1997 to 2003 he returned to performing as a solo act and released several albums and singles. Eventually, he tired of the demands of public performance and media portrayals and announced his retirement. After a final concert in July 2004, he stopped performing and recording.
 
He continued to write songs for others, however, and to produce albums. Until 2016, he maintained an active charitable life as artistic director of the musical group Les Enfoirés and their work with Les Restos du Coeur. That same year, he moved his family to a home in west London, England punctuated by trips to Marseilles, his wife’s home town. He occasionally wrote songs for other performers but mainly tended to a family that had grown to 6 children, 3 from each of two wives (Catherine Morlet 1975-97 and Nathalie Thu Luong-Lagier 2001-) plus 11 grandchildren.

​Despite his long absence from public view, he was repeatedly elected in an annual poll by “Le Journal du Dimanche” (JDD) as the favorite French personality. Following an unauthorized biography titled Goldman by Ivan Jablonka in 2023, he announced his intention to withdraw completely from public life.

Jean Jacques Goldman Song:
Puisque Tu Pars (Since You are Leaving)