Jean-Patrick Capdevielle

Jean-Patrick Capdevielle played an integral role in France's rock scene during the late-1970s and early-1980s, an era that found him releasing two platinum-selling albums. He was born outside Paris in Levallois-Perret, France, on December 19, 1945. After graduating early from high school, he worked in the magazine industry as a journalist and photographer, contributing to publications like Salut les copains and Lui. By the late 1970s, he was looking for a new diversion and turned to music, making his debut with the reggae-inspired single "Solitude." The song earned him a contract from CBS, who released his debut album Les Enfants des Ténèbres et les Anges de la rue in 1979. The song "Quand t'es dans le Désert" became a hit, and Les Enfants des Ténèbres et les Anges de la rue eventually went platinum. Capdevielle's next album, /2, also went platinum, spawning the hit songs "C'est dur d'être un héros" and "Oh Chiquita" along the way. 1981's Le Long de la jetée failed to generate a similar level of commercial success, though, and Capdevielle's sales waned during the rest of the 1980s, even as he remained prolific by releasing records like 1982's L'Ennemi public, 1984's Lauvaises Fréquentations, and 1987's Louvel Âge. He founded a production company during the decade's final stretch and began directing music videos during the 1990s. He also produced Carmine Meo, the multi-platinum debut album by French soprano Emma Shapplin. Released in 1997, the album was a crossover classical smash that sold more than two million copies. It also revived Capdevielle's career, and he continued releasing solo albums at a sporadic pace during the early 21st century, including 2007's Hérétique #13 and 2015's Bienvenue au Paradis.

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