Nougaro, a constant innovator in the world of French chanson, introduced a novel note to his last tour (2002-2003), narrating his texts rather than singing them. In a show entitled Les Fables de ma Fontaine (a reference to Lafontaine’s Fables), the singer took to the stage alone, captivating audiences up and down France with his charismatic story-telling. Right to the very end of his career, the Toulousan singer celebrated his love of the French language in those inimitable rich, deep tones.

The Early Days

Born in Toulouse, in the south of France, on 9 September 1929, young Claude grew up in a creative musical environment, his father being a professional baritone and his mother, a gifted pianist. Nougaro displayed impressive writing talent from an early age and originally dreamt of becoming a journalist. He did turn his hand to journalistic writing in the early stages of his career, but it was through poetry that his writing talent really blossomed. And an early encounter with the French poet Jacques Audiberti encouraged the budding young writer to continue in this direction.

Nougaro went on to turn his hand to songwriting in the early 50s, penning songs for the likes of Marcel Amont and Philippe Clay. Overcoming his natural shyness, Nougaro eventually took to the stage to sing his own work, performing at leading Parisian cabarets such as Chez Patachou and Le Lapin Agile in Montmartre. The Toulousan balladeer went on to record a debut album in 1959, but it would be several years before he achieved mainstream success.

An encounter with the French composer and arranger Michel Legrand was to change the course of Nougaro’s career, however. The pair, who met in the 50s and discovered a mutual passion for jazz, went on to work together. And, as a result, Nougaro scored his first chart hit with Cécile ma fille in 1962.

Jazz and world sounds

Jazz always made its presence felt in Nougaro’s work, the Toulousan singer seeking inspiration from the likes of Dave Brubeck (A bout de souffle, 1965) and Nat Adderley (Sing Sing Song). In 1965 Nougaro also paid a syncopated tribute to Louis Armstrong with the song Armstrong (1965). Later he went on to work with many leading jazz stars including Eddy Louiss, Richard Galliano, Aldo Romano, Bernard Lubat, Didier Lockwood and his long-time live collaborator Maurice Vander. Nougaro’s clever fusion of 'chanson' and jazz gave rise to a whole series of classics such as Le Jazz et la java, Quatre boules de cuir and La pluie fait des claquettes.

In the 70s, Nougaro sought inspiration further afield, picking up on the lilting bossa nova rhythms of Brazil. The Toulousan star went off on tour with guitarist Baden Powell in 1975. The following year he sang with Tania Maria and in the 80s he performed with a duo called Les Etoiles. But it was Tu verras (Nougaro’s adaptation of the Brazilian singer Chico Buarque’s classic) that went down in music history as one of the highlights of his career.

Nougaro faded from the limelight in the early 80s, but made a comeback in 1988 with an upbeat mix of funk and rock. His single, Nougayork, recorded in the Big Apple itself, went on to become a phenomenal hit (the best-selling hit of his career, in fact). Nougaro also had his finger firmly on the pulse of world rhythms. He sang with Zairean star Ray Lema in 1993 and sought inspiration in African music on his last album, Embarquement immédiat (released in 2000).

The final curtain

Renowned as a charismatic, jovial, and occasionally excessive, 'bon vivant,' Nougaro – who coined his own nickname "the baroque Troubadour" – had already evoked his death in one of his songs, singing the immortal lyrics "Dansez sur moi le soir de mes funérailles" ("Go ahead and dance over me the night of my funeral!"). Nougaro showed courage and perseverance in his ongoing battle with cancer, but it was cancer that won out in the end. Nougaro had been treated in a Paris hospital for several weeks, but he insisted on returning home to die in his own bed.

Nougaro’s agent, Charley Marouani, announced that a mass will be celebrated in the singer’s honour at Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris on Monday, 8 March. Meanwhile, Nougaro lives on on record thanks to some twenty albums recorded in his lifetime. The singer’s final recordings include a contribution to Sol en cirque (Warner, 2003), a fund-raising compilation for children suffering from AIDS and a duet on Didier Sustrac’s forthcoming album. Nougaro’s website, run by his wife, Hélène, also announces that a new album is "still due out in April 2004". We look forward to hearing it!