Johnny Hallyday (born Jean-Philippe Smet, 1943-2017) was a prolific and popular (in France) “rocker” who recorded more than 1000 songs, sold more than 100 million records with 33 #1 hit singles, held nearly 3200 concerts and acted in 30 movies. He was an energetic showman with 180 sellout tours where he delivered his music with an extravagant stage persona. One of these occurred in 2001 at the Eiffel Tower before 600,000 fans. Jimi Hendrix opened for him at a show in 1966. Johnny borrowed his stage name from his cousin’s husband Lee Halliday who taught him guitar. He introduced rock-‘n-roll to France.
Hallyday had an early exposure to show business. He was raised by an aunt who traveled around Europe as stage manager for her two ballerina daughters while he gained experience in singing and acting. Watching Elvis Presley’s 1957 film “Loving You” showed him the allure of sneering lips, swiveling hips and leather pants. His 1961 breakout cover of “Let’s Twist Again” (“Viens Danser Le Twist”) topped most European charts. Shortly after, in 1962, he appeared on the Ed Sullivan show with Connie Francis in a show taped at the Moulin Rouge in Paris.
Hallyday was something of a musical chameleon. His music spanned many genres, not just over time but in terms of the ecumenism of his repertoire, like a well-made “pot au feu” with different ingredients carefully folded in. These ingredients included Presley-like rock, twist, psychedelia, blues, country and even rock opera. He staged many musical collaborations that added to the stew, including Charles Aznavour, Michel Berger, Jean-Jacques Goldman, Jimi Hendrix, Mick Jones, Jimmy Page, Peter Frampton, and Bono and many others.
After a series of medical complications, Hallyday’s career resuscitated in 1986 when he turned to established singer/songwriters to provide material. In 1986, Michel Berger wrote Hallyday’s entire 34th studio album “Rock’n’Roll Attitude.” In 1987, Jean-Jacques Goldman wrote the 35th “Gang” studio album for Hallyday and played guitar and piano on it as well. That album was named after the Paris “Gang Recording Studio” where it was recorded.
Hallyday had an early exposure to show business. He was raised by an aunt who traveled around Europe as stage manager for her two ballerina daughters while he gained experience in singing and acting. Watching Elvis Presley’s 1957 film “Loving You” showed him the allure of sneering lips, swiveling hips and leather pants. His 1961 breakout cover of “Let’s Twist Again” (“Viens Danser Le Twist”) topped most European charts. Shortly after, in 1962, he appeared on the Ed Sullivan show with Connie Francis in a show taped at the Moulin Rouge in Paris.
Hallyday was something of a musical chameleon. His music spanned many genres, not just over time but in terms of the ecumenism of his repertoire, like a well-made “pot au feu” with different ingredients carefully folded in. These ingredients included Presley-like rock, twist, psychedelia, blues, country and even rock opera. He staged many musical collaborations that added to the stew, including Charles Aznavour, Michel Berger, Jean-Jacques Goldman, Jimi Hendrix, Mick Jones, Jimmy Page, Peter Frampton, and Bono and many others.
After a series of medical complications, Hallyday’s career resuscitated in 1986 when he turned to established singer/songwriters to provide material. In 1986, Michel Berger wrote Hallyday’s entire 34th studio album “Rock’n’Roll Attitude.” In 1987, Jean-Jacques Goldman wrote the 35th “Gang” studio album for Hallyday and played guitar and piano on it as well. That album was named after the Paris “Gang Recording Studio” where it was recorded.
His flamboyant and turbulent personal life was littered with marriages (5, including 2 with the same woman), suicide attempts (2), drug use (cocaine), vehicle accidents, medical issues, and leather-jacketed motorcycle trips on his Harley “hog” across the US, where he resided for many years (in LA) though his official residence was in tax-free Switzerland. All of this, plus his spirit of rebellion and freedom, seemed to endear him to his fans. He and singer-actress Sylvie Vartan were France’s “golden couple” between their marriage in 1965 and divorce in 1980 despite many hiccups in between. In 2009, rumors appeared that he had died from a medically-induced coma during an operation on a slipped disc. Afterwards, he joked: “The first time I died I didn’t like it so I came back.” When the real thing occurred, an estimated 15 million people in 2017 viewed his televised funeral procession and tribute at the Madeleine church in central Paris, after which he was buried on the French Caribbean Island of Saint Barthelemy.
Johnny Hallyday Songs:
Quelque Chose de Tennessee (Something of Tennessee)
Si Tu Pars (If You Leave)
Johnny Hallyday Songs:
Quelque Chose de Tennessee (Something of Tennessee)
Si Tu Pars (If You Leave)