Joëlle Ursull

Joëlle Ursull is a French singer who rose to prominence as a member of the Antillean group Zouk Machine in the 1980s. She was born on November 9, 1960, in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadaloupe. She started her career as a television actress and model before joining Zouk Machine in 1986. In a relatively short period of time, the group achieved a high level of success and popularity with their self-titled album Sové Lanmou. Only two years later, Joëlle Ursull left Zouk Machine to pursue a solo career. Her debut solo album, Miyel, was released that same year. She represented France at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1990 with the song “White and Black Blues,” a smash success with music by Georges Augier de Moussac and lyrics by Serge Gainsbourg that peaked at Number 2 in France, remaining on the charts for 26 weeks. Also in 1990, she released her second album, the critically-acclaimed Black French, which found the singer honing in on the Caribbean-influenced sound that made her famous in the first place. In 1993, she released her blues-influenced third album As in a Film. Her musical career became less prolific after motherhood, when she focused on raising her children. In 1999, she sang a duet with Jacques D’Arbaud titled “Merci maman Merci Papa.” The standalone single "Babydoo" was released in 2003, followed by “Love” with Daddy Yod (2006) and “My Lady” with Diggy Star (2008).

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