Claude Nougaro

Claude Nougaro (born September 9, 1929, Toulouse, Occitania – died March 4, 2004, Paris) was a French songwriter and singer.

His father was an opera singer and his mother a piano teacher. He began his career as a songwriter in the early 1950's. He debuted as a singer in 1955, on the stage of Lapin Agile, Montmartre Cabaret. His debut recording was released in 1959, with very minor success, despite a tour with [a=Dalida]. In 1962, a jazz influenced collaboration with [a=Michel Legrand] becomes his breakthrough success, both commercial and critical. In 1964 he teamed up with [a=Baden Powell], the first of a long term relationship incorporating Brazilian sounds and musicians. In the mid-1980's he was dropped by his record company [l=Barclay] due to disappointing record sales. He then moved to New York City, where he recorded a funk-tinged album, "Nougayork", a massive seller and award winning album that brought him to the attention of a whole new audience. After this New York experience, he returned to his jazz roots, to which he incorporated some world music elements collaborating with [a=Didier Lockwood] or [a=Ray Lema].

He died on March 4, 2004, and his ashes were scattered on the Garonne river in his Toulouse hometown. Later in 2004, [l=Blue Note] released a collection of his last recordings titled "La Note Bleue".

He's the father of [a2285306].