Jacques Hélian

The conductor known as Jacques Hélian, whose real name was Jacques Mikaël Der Mikaëlian, was born in Paris on June 7, 1912. The son of an Armenian man and a French woman, he gave up his studies to study saxophone with his brother-in-law Raymond Legrand, and made his debut in Roland Dorsay's orchestra, which gave him his stage name Jacques Hélian. He joined Raymond Legrand's orchestra (1934-1936), then Jo Bouillon's, before joining Ray Ventura's Collégiens in 1936. Released from military service in 1938, Jacques Hélian began performing and recording under his own name when the Second World War broke out. Taken prisoner, he was released in 1943 and the following year founded his own orchestra, with Francine Aubret as singer and Zaphod Max as host. Their first song, "Fleur de Paris", was a huge success, symbolizing the Liberation and becoming the band's signature tune. Others followed in 1945 with "Jo le cowboy", "La Polka d'amour", "Le Gros Bill", "Paris-Tour Eiffel" and "Accordéon", before the arrival of Francine Claudel, singing "Le Porte-bonheur" and the popular tunes that followed, until she was replaced in 1947 by Ginette Garcin, joined by Jean Marco for duets like "C'est si bon". In addition to forming the vocal trio Les Hélianes in 1949, the conductor recorded "Étoile des neiges " and accompanied Bourvil. In 1950, Jacques Hélian and his orchestra appeared in the film Pigalle-Saint-Germain-des-Prés, before the following year's premiere of "Vieille canaille", covered by Serge Gainsbourg in 1979 and later in a duet with Eddy Mitchell. Also in 1951, Musique en tête was filmed, with the participation of Irène de Trébert. The orchestra continued without Ginette Garcin, replaced by Suzanne Day and then Lou Darley. A 3rd film, Tambour battant, was made in 1952. Jean Marco's death in a car accident in 1953 is followed by a series of records with Jean-Louis Tristan. Jacques Hélian, who included rock'n'roll in his repertoire, fell ill and went blind. In 1958, he formed the Nouvel Orchestre, which recorded until 1973 and performed until 1979. Appointed Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur in 1985, Jacques Hélian died on June 29, 1986 at the age of 74.

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