Alain Souchon, born Alain Édouard Kienast on May 27, 1944, is a renowned French singer-songwriter and actor. With a prolific career spanning over five decades, he has released an impressive 15 albums and has appeared in seven films.
Born in Casablanca, Morocco, Souchon's family on his mother's side hails from Switzerland, and he holds dual French-Swiss nationality. Six months after his birth, his family relocated to France, where he spent most of his childhood. Tragedy struck when Souchon's father died in an accident when he was just 15 years old. His mother then sent him to a French college in England, but due to registration issues, he decided to stay in London and work.
Upon returning to France, Souchon began playing the guitar, heavily influenced by English and American music. In 1970, he married and had his first son, while continuing to perform in Parisian cabarets and bars. Two years later, he signed his first contract with Pathe-Marconi, but unfortunately, his debut album did not yield significant success.
Undeterred, Souchon continued to hone his craft, and in 1974, he released his breakthrough single "J'ai 10 ans" from the album of the same name. This marked the beginning of a successful collaboration with composer/arranger Laurent Voulzy, with whom he would co-write songs and release albums under his own name.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Souchon continued to release albums, including the critically acclaimed "On avance" in 1980. He also began his acting career, starring in films such as "L'été Meurtrier" in 1983. In 1989, his song "La beauté de Ava Gardner" won the "Best Title of the Year" award at the Victoires de la Musique.
The 1990s saw Souchon's biggest hit, "Foule sentimentale," from his 1993 album "C'est déjà ça," which sold over a million copies. This success was followed by the "Best Original Song" award at the 20th anniversary of the Victoires de la Musique in 1995. In 1996, he received the "Prix Vincent Scotto" award from the SACEM for his song "Sous les Jupes des Filles."
After a brief hiatus, Souchon returned in 2005 with the hugely successful album "La vie Théodore," which featured the hit single "...Et si en plus y'a personne." With his impressive discography and enduring legacy, Alain Souchon remains one of France's most beloved and respected singer-songwriters and actors.
