Nino Ferrer

Italian-born French singer-songwriter, painter and author born August 15, 1934 in Genoa, Italy and died August 13, 1998 in Montcuq (Lot, France).

He started playing double bass in a Jazz trio in the '50s, accompanying [a2477750] and [a282285].

Perhaps best known in France for a string of comedic hits in the '60s and in Italy for RnB protest songs such as [b]La Pella Nera[/b], Ferrer had a complicated relationship with the music industry, feeling his public persona and recognition at odds with his artistic aspirations.

His 1975 classic [b]Le Sud[/b] exemplifies this relationship: a million selling single in France, its success eclipsed the English language album it was taken from, [m=379410], which only enjoyed cult status.

He continued releasing music during the '80s and '90s, often collaborating with [a=Mickey Finn], became a French citizen in 1989 and committed suicide in 1998.