Richard Gotainer was born in Paris (in the city's 12th arrondissement) on 30 March 1948. His parents, Frédérique and Georges, made a living selling furniture - indeed, the couple's business proved so successful that they were soon able to buy their own furniture shop. Richard was a happy child with a particular liking for practical jokes. Needless to say, he soon proved to be a popular pupil at the local school, where his cheerfulness and sharp sense of humour won him the class award for "good-naturedness". Richard was also an extremely creative young boy, experimenting with several artistic hobbies such as photography (for which he showed a particular talent). Richard also developed a great interest in sound and, for his 13th birthday, his parents gave him a tape recorder, which he would trail around with him wherever he went, recording various ambiences and street sounds.  

In his teenage years Richard began writing sketches with his close friend Jacky (who would also launch a showbiz career in later life, going on to become a well-known French press attaché and TV presenter). The pair would spend their entire summer holidays working on their gags and sketches, which, in general, made few people fall about laughing - other than themselves that is! Richard and Jacky did manage to get a few bookings on the Paris cabaret scene, although their adolescent double act failed to impress many audiences. This early stage experience was not completely wasted, however. Richard, whose lively wit and charisma made him a natural stage performer, decided that from this point on he would devote himself to launching a career in showbiz.  

In the 60's Richard developed an interest in film and music, becoming a passionate Beatles fan. His parents were none too keen on him launching an artistic career, however, so to appease them Richard enrolled at law school (where he would study for the next five years). Richard did not devote himself to law entirely, however. He spent much of his free time travelling and picking up odd student jobs here and there. In the 70's Richard began to spend more and more time working for advertising agencies. With his witty sense of humour and his apparently limitless flow of creative ideas, the work continued to flow in over the next few years. Indeed, advertising agencies jumped on the brilliant young man who was capable of coming up with hundreds of catchy advertising slogans at the drop of a hat.  

Yet, in spite of his phenomenal success in the advertising world, Richard soon grew tired of his copywriting job. The talented young musician soon set to work writing music and creating special sound effects, in the hope of using these together with his slogans. But Richard's wacky style was judged too 'creative' for the advertising world. However, it did catch the eye of an adventurous young director by the name of Jacques Gaudillat. Discovering that they were on the same wavelength, Gotainer and Gaudillat left their respective agencies and created their own company, Gatkess. The pair's off-the-wall humour and crazy visual style scored an enormous hit in the French advertising world and Gotainer's jingles went on to become some of the most famous catch-phrases on French TV in the 70's.  

This was back in 1976 when, besides writing jingles and advertising slogans, Gotainer was also experimenting on the music scene. Indeed, Gotainer went on to meet a number of leading musicians on the French music scene such as Claude Engel (the guitarist from the legendary French jazz/rock group Magma). The pair hit it off immediately and Gotainer showed Engel the impressive collection of songs he had already written. Engel began setting the lyrics to music and within a few months the pair had enough material to go into the studio and record their first album, "Forgeur de tempo". Released in 1977, "Forgeur de tempo" proved a huge hit with the critics who loved Gotainer's ironic lyrics and the album's funny cartoon-style ambience.  

After the success of "Forgeur de tempo", Gotainer and Engel went on to team up with Engel's sound engineer brother Marcel (aka Celmar) in 1979. The trio then returned to the studio and set to work on a second album entitled "Contes de traviole" - an album which really confirmed the talent of the budding young singer Gotainer! Needless to say, Gotainer's vocals soon went on to make their mark on the French music scene after the release of the best-selling single "Tout foufou", which proved to be just the first in a whole string of hits. The legendary French comedian Coluche - whose ironic sketches and irreverential gags were, in fact, in a similar vein to Gotainer's witty songwriting style - was so impressed by the young singer/songwriter's talent that he invited him to perform as his support act when he appeared at the famous Paris cabaret, Le Café de la Gare, in July 1980. Richard Gotainer soon found himself much in demand - for, in November of that year veteran French rocker Eddy Mitchell also invited the rising young star to support him at the Olympia (the most prestigious music venue in Paris!). 

While Gotainer was supporting Eddy Mitchell at the Olympia, his new single "Primitif" was also making its way to the top of the French charts. Riding high on a wave of success, Gotainer soon followed this smash with a whole string of hit singles such as "Chipie" and "Le Sampa". The latter was used as the theme tune to Claude Berri's film "Le maître d'école" - starring Coluche - and proved such a hit with the French public that it went gold soon after its release! "Primitif", "Chipie" and "Le Sampa" were released independently of any album - in fact, Gotainer did not appear to need to release a new album. His popularity amongst the French public was soaring, and audiences were going wild for his performances on French TV.  

Gotainer returned to the studio in 1982 to record a third album entitled "Chants Zazous". This album found the singer experimenting with a new musical direction, playing down his 'crazy', fun-loving side and performing a collection of songs which were much more tender and romantic (although still written in collaboration with his faithful songwriting partner Claude Engel). "Chants Zazous" also featured an innovative cover version of Vivaldi's "Four Seasons". But the most outstanding track on Gotainer's new album was undoubtedly "le Mambo du décalco" - a song which added another gold disc to the singer's collection shortly after its release!  

The following year Gotainer gave full rein to his singing talent and his creative imagination when he performed at the Olympia (8 - 13 March 1983). His "Show Zazou", a sumptuous stage extravaganza featuring backing singers, dancers, wild costumes and spectacular lighting effects, proved an enormous hit with the French public. Then, in the autumn of '83, Gotainer set off on a triumphant tour, playing 12 dates up and down the country, before performing a final grand finale in Paris.  

In 1985 Gotainer returned to the studio to begin work on a new album entitled "Poil à la pub". This highly original album reflected Gotainer's success in both the advertising and the music world and featured a mix of 85 of his jingles and comic sketches.  

After "Poil à la pub" Gotainer took a short break from the music scene and did not resurface until 1987, when he released a new album entitled "Vive la Gaulle". This album was inspired by an encounter with the famous French cartoonist Albert Uderzo, creator of the legendary Asterix books. Teaming up with the writer and musician Eric Kristy, Gotainer set out to write his own personal tribute to the diminutive Gaul and his famous sidekick Obélix. Unfortunately, the French public was rather less enthusiastic about the project than Gotainer and Kristy and the album "Vive la Gaulle" did not turn out to be a commercial success. Gotainer did not appear to be too bothered by the poor sales figures of his new album, however, preferring to take a break from his singing career and concentrate on his new project - writing and directing his first movie!  

Gotainer devoted more than five years to the making of his film, "Rendez-vous au tas de sable", co-writing the scenario with Jean-Pierre Domboy, composing the soundtrack and acting in the film himself. "Rendez-vous au tas de sable" finally hit French cinema screens on 31 January 1990 - but, unfortunately, the movie-going public were not over-enthusiastic about the film and box-office takings were low.  

Gotainer went on to release a new 6-track album in 1990 (which included his classic "Femmes à lunettes"). But the singer was deeply upset by the 'semi-failure' of his film and, shortly after the release of his new album, Gotainer decided to take a break from the music scene for a while. In fact, following the birth of his son, Léo, Gotainer spent nearly all of his time with his family. He returned to the music scene in 1992, however, with a new album entitled "D'amour et d'orage" (Of Love and Storms). This album was a more mature, reflective work which looked at the ups and downs of family life and the new responsibilities that fatherhood had brought him. Several songs also explored political themes - in Gotainer's usual witty, ironic way, of course! The singer also championed the green cause, transforming himself into a kind of unofficial, sardonic 'spokesperson' for ecologists everywhere. Later that year Gotainer also took on another new role, becoming the patron of the cycling team from La Haye-du-Puits. (And, in so doing, following in the footsteps of another famous French singer - the late great Serge Gainsbourg!). 

Gotainer performed at the Olympia for a second time at the start of '93. Then the following year he returned to the studio to record another album with his old friend Claude Engel. The album "Elle est pas belle la vie", which marked a return to Gotainer's ironic style (c.f. "l'Automodébile", "les Accidents du train-train") also featured a number of hilarious cartoon-style songs such as "Nadine à oilpé" and "Macaches pépètes". Following the release of his new album, Gotainer set off on a national tour which included a three-day stint at the Casino de Paris (March 1995). Gotainer's show at the Casino de Paris proved a huge success with the public and also resulted in the singer's first live album, "Le Gotainer band en public".  

Gotainer recently celebrated his 50th birthday, but the singer's career shows no signs of slowing down and his ebullient humour remains as sharp as ever. Indeed, Gotainer returned to the studio earlier this year to put the finishing touches to a hilarious new album entitled "Tendance banane". The singer, who happens to be a passionate computer fiend in his spare time, designed his new album cover himself. As for the musical arrangements on "Tendance banane", these were written by Gotainer's old friend Claude Engel and a newcomer to the Gotainer universe, Philippe Kelly. The lyrics on the new album are in true Gotainer style, mixing poetry with the most hilarious childish humour (c.f. the song about farting!) Indeed, Gotainer continues to take a veritable delight in passing from one register to another - and as listeners will discover on the singer's latest album no subject is ever taboo!  

December 98