THE BIOGRAPHY OF FRANCOIS VALERY   en français

!! many THANKS to Laurence for this translation !!

Biography written by the webmaster based on articles of the french magazines Podium, Salut Les Copains, Salut, France Dimanche, Ici Paris, Jours de France, Stéphanie, OK!, Hit, Melle Age Tendre, Tilt, Nous Deux, Ciné Revue, Boys et Girls, Confidences, Télé 7 jours, Top 50, Corse Matin, VSD, Platine,.....                                                                                                           Last update: 23/01/2022      
 

Jean-Louis Mougeot (François Valéry’s real name) was born on 4th August 1954, in Oran, in Algeria.

He is the youngest of one brother and five sisters (Antoine/Tony, Antoinette, Mathilde, Carmen, Monique and Mauricette).

In 1957, when he François is hardly 3 years old, his father leaves his hotel-restaurant the «Auberge du Rocher» in Oran and above all he abandons Mathilde, his wife and his 7 children to their sad fate. Probably to carelessly go on his career as a flamenco singer as « El Africano ».
Overnight, the family has to leave its beautiful villa for a small flat. Mathilde, Jean-Louis’ mother, borrows money to buy a small grocer’s shop.

At 5 years old, Jean-Louis has a nasty fall on the level crossing near his home. He will keep an important scar on his head.  

Too bad, but this (published in magazines such as OK !) was a pure invention from the attaché-de-press Denis Goise:
"Edith Piaf regularly went to Jean-Louis’ parents’ hotel when she was touring in Algeria. She really adored the little boy and always bought him toys  One day, Edith Piaf gave the kid a gold jewel which belonged to her : a heart-shaped pendant which opens to show a small photo of Edith. François will always wear this jewel around his neck as a lucky charm until the day when, after a concert in Pau (on 7th September 1979, during the trade-fair), he notices the loss of his precious souvenir after the usual big rush with fans, in which his shirt was torn".

His family leaves Algeria in 1962 (Jean-Louis had just had a bike fall, breaking his tibia) to go and settle to Paris with eight persons living in 9 m². Mathilde does some housework for people to feed her family.

Later, after a one-year stay at La Garde (near Toulon) and holidays in Marseilles, Jean-Louis and his mother will settle in Paris suburbs. Hard times begin. His mother who can’t write nor read) works as a worker struggling to keep the pot boiling, for eight people in a three-roomed flat.

As a kid, Jean-Louis dreams of being a professional footballer. As a matter of fact, while a teenager in Bois-Colombes, he was one of the greatest hopes for professional football. At fourteen, his league table during the Ile-de-France championship confirms it : he is the 14th in the general league in the under nineteen category.

It is also at 14 years old that his mother gives him a guitar. The music fever is stronger that the football one.

At 16, Jean-Louis’ goal is definitely set : he will be a singer, whatever the difficulties might be.

At 16, Jean-Louis has his first love kiss with the fair-haired Brigitte, 15 years old, during holidays in Port de Bouc. But it is when he is 17 that Jean-Louis has his first (mutual)  love at first sight for Elysabeth (Babette) he had met during a party. Their love story will last a little more than 3 years from 1971 to 1975.

To have even more esteem from his great love, Jean-Louis forms his first band with 5 friends : the "Nord Expres 57" (named from the train he used to take to the Moselle department, where his girlfriend lived). In it, Jean-Louis plays the drums and sings songs by Johnny Hallyday and Claude François in small balls and village halls. He will perform in it for eight months.

He is compelled to give his studies up to earn his living and to live while waiting for glory, he became by turns errand boy (he delivered envelopes to EF (French electric supply company), clerk, barman, and so on …

In 1973, Phillippe Bouvard gives him to opportunity to take part in a radio talent contest in his show “ RTL Non Stop" –it was the time when Jean-Louis was singing Michel Sardou’s repertory.

It’s when he comes back from the RTL studios that he is fired by his department head at Rhône-Poullenc, where he was working as an errand boy.

He regularly hitch-hikes to Paris where he releases his first record by the name of Claude Larra « Et puis c’est tout » that he produces himself in May 1973.

On 5th March 1974 in the Europe 1 hall, the producers Jean-Paul Barkoff and Jean-Max Rivière pass a young fair-haired man who comes to them telling them :
"I know you are both producers. I would like to have a try in singing. I have taped a song I composed myself on my recorder. Could you listen to it and tell me what you think about it ?" Suiting the action to the word, the young fair-haired man hands them a box where a tape inside : « I’ve written my address on the box. If you want to contact me, do write me »

Moreover, François Valéry tells that Mike Brant (Barkoff’s protégé) was also present in the Europe 1 hall and that Mike Brant was kind enough to listen to his record and to promise him to help him.

At the end of May 1974 his first single (by the name of François Valéry) is released « Une chanson d’été ». It’s a hit. It remains in the charts for 26 weeks.

The name "François Valéry" was chosen by Françoise Torchman (Marcel Amont’s secretary) who had used her clairvoyance gift and had done table turning !!! But it is obvious that the clairvoyant was, above all, well aware of news and presidential elections (last ballot between François Mitterrand and Valéry Giscard d'Estaing).

His first TV show was on Sunday 25th June 1974 in “Sports en Fêtes”, a show by Michel Drucker in which he sang "Une Chanson d'Eté", the other guests on that day were Sacha Distel and Mireille Mathieu.

At that time, François Valéry is 1m72 tall - 5'7" metres tall- (1m74 according to some other sources) and weighs 62 kg, French size 38 and has slightly green eyes (or brown depending on the sources).

His first  gala was on 2nd March 1975 at the celebration of elegance which took place at the Bruay-en-Artois village hall.
 

During the whole summer 75, François Valéry is the support singer in some of Stone et Charden, Alain Barrière and Annie Cordy’s shows.

During 1975, François changes record companies : he goes from AZ records (that released his three first singles by the name of François Valéry) to Orlando, distributed by Carrere records.

But after two singles (Orlando / Carrere release again the second single – the 5th in chronological order- with inverted titles in 1982). He then goes to Charles Talar Records in 1976.

During 1976, after a phone call from Johnny Starck, he goes touring with Mireille Mathieu; more than 60 galas all over France.

It is also in 1976 that François has an operation from a meniscus cyst at his left knee. In March 77, he has a relapse : he undergoes surgery again at the same knee.

François Valéry meets the young singer Julie Bataille on 10th March 1976: their affair begins on 15th March.
François Valéry then finds a huge Love with Maryse , cinema make-up artist, that he met in May 1976 on the set of the TV show "Système 2". It is only in June 1977 that public gets to know it and that OK magazine publishes photos of François with Maryse, his fiancée.
 

At the end of 1978 François Valéry attends the Miss France Contest as a member of the jury and votes for Sylvie Pareira, Miss Marseilles, who becomes Miss France 1979.   

In  August 1979, he has an affair with the announcer Evelyne Leclercq. They will break up in May 1980. Immediately after, he has an affair with Sheila (or Kathy depending on the sources), a young American model, Elvis Presley’s niece, who is introduced to him by Christopher Atkins; but she goes back to the States a few months later (this affair probably inspired him « Elle était venue du Colorado » released in 1983).

In 1978, François has a car accident after a gala.

First gold record in 1979.

In 1979 François Valéry records "Parce que ton père ne m'aimait pas", song inspired by his first great love, Babette.

François Valéry is in his dressing room just before a show (a gala at the Mayol stadium in Toulon) on 18th July 1979 when he comes across an envelope, amongst the numerous encouraging mail from his fans, that really puzzles him : a surprise letter from his father (he did not had any news from his father since the latter had given his family up 22 years earlier). François will only accept to met his father again 7 months later and only after they had exchanged several other letters.

At the beginning of 1982, François Valéry has already sold 8 millions records, including more than a million thanks to his duet « Dream in blue » with Sophie Marceau !

In Summer1982, François Valéry is the star of the Europe 1 podium.

First Olympia concert on 7th May 1984: François Valéry performs a gala called "10 ans de chansons pour un coeur" (10 song years for a heart), for the benefit of the French Variety Club (a charity). During it, he sings a duet  with Debbie Davies.

The « Emmanuelle » record, released in February 1980, is sold in more that 1 million copies. François dedicated this song to his great friend Marie-Hélène Breillat. This song will also be a big hit in Germany, in Italy and in Japan. In May 1980, the « Emmanuelle » single sung in Italian is released in Italy.

In 1981, François Valéry sings "Chicago c'est fini" in the Carlos’ show « Numéro 1".

François is the guest  of « L'école des fans » show by Jacques Martin on 4th December 1983.

But François Valéry does not only compose for himself : Michèle Torr, Dalida (« L’inammorata »), Line Renaud, Annie Cordy, Jean-françois Michael, Jean Marais and Jessica Parker have been his performers. The song « Emmène-moi danser ce soir » he composed and wrote the lyrics of (with J. Albertini) for Michèle Torr, has been three times a gold record, that is to say one million and five hundred thousand copies are sold.

July 1983 : François Valéry discovers  film music, or it would be more correct to say film music discovers the composer. The producer Benjamin Simon proposes him to write the theme of the erotic film «Joy » by Serge Bergon. François composes this theme in only a few minutes. He has it recorded by the American singer Debbie Davis and it  is an international hit. This original soundtrack will be in the charts in 27 different countries. It is François who found Debbie Davies, one of Sylvie Vartan’s ex chorist, who will also be later part of the Michel Sardou’s chorus at Bercy in January 91.

François Valéry will sing the flagship song "Joy" in a duet with Christopher Atkins (famous for the film « The Blue lagoon) in the TV show called « Champs-Elysées ».

July 1984 : Benjamin Simon does it again. He asks François Valéry to work on a new film and it is « L’été d’enfer » by Michael Shock, and another great hit : « Emotion » sung once again by Debbie Davis.

November 1984 : François Valéry composes in turn the film music of « Les Nanas », sung by Marie-France Pisier, and the music of «  Joy & Joan », erotic film by Jacques Saurel.

August 1985 : The producer Christian Ardan entrusts François with the music and lyrics (helped by Gilbert Sinoué, Ann Calvert and Christian Cravéro) of the concert songs Julia Migenes Johnson sings in the film « L’unique » by Jérôme Diamant Berger. That is to say the songs « Without love », « With you » and « When the music begins » (the latter will be taped in French later, in 1996 : « Et Dieu créa le rock». This gives Julia Migenes Johnson the opportunity to say during the TF1 news «The Americans have Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie, you have François Valéry and it is already very good !! He succeeded in having me going from opera to variety songs with an amazing easiness. Just because he is a studio man and a great melody writer…

In August 1984, he goes back to Algeria again for two concerts in the Algiers summer theatre. He also goes to Oran to visit the former family house where he sees again his childhood bedroom.

From 1985 onwards, he has his own label : FRANCEVAL (=FRANCoisVALéry) ; his songs are also registered to the Music Publishers bearing the same name.

On 28th October 1984, François Valéry goes to a party celebrating the 10th anniversary of Le Beauvilliers restaurant in Montmartre district where he recognizes an actress he had met two years earlier in the game-show by Pierre Bellemare : Nicole Calfan. François manages to sit near her. They make friends and he promises her to go and see her the next day in « Le Dindon » a play by Feydeau. That is how their love novel started.

François Valéry and Nicole Calfan got married on 14th June 1986. They give birth to two children : Jérémy, who was born on 16th October1986 (3.300 kg , 49 cm, blue-eyed ; his godmother is Mireille Darc) and Michaël born in 1989. They got divorced in January 1993.

In 1988, François composes the music for the play by Françoise Dorin created by Guy Tréjean and Nicole Calfan: “Les Cahiers Tango".

François performs at the Casino de Paris (concert hall) from 2nd to 8th October 1987.

In July 1989 « Aimons-nous vivants » is released. It is sold at 1 million copies.

In  1989, he creates the music publishing house Mathilde Mélodie (Mathilde is his Mum’s first name and her photo is even be printed on the logo).

In September 1989, François takes part to « Avis de recherche », the show by Patrick Sabatier : there he sees again his friends from Bois-Colombes and also Babette, who he had his first great love story with, as he told himself.

In 1989, François Valéry composes the flagship song of the film « L’aventure extraordinaire d’un papa peu ordinaire » by Philippe Clair : « Mamma Mia » with lyrics written by Michaele, sung by Erick Bamy (the faithful companion and voice double for Johnny Hallyday). This song will be remade and translated into French by Hervé Vilard, who will make an international hit with it.

François Valéry performs at the Olympia concert hall, for several days this time, from 30th January to 4th February 1990 and then again from 5th November 1991 to 11th November 1991.

On 21st June 1992, François is again (for the 15th time- guest of « L’école des fans, the show by Jacques Martin, a show which had first been planned on 17th May 1992 but François suffering from a meningeal virus had been bedridden on doctors’ orders.

In 1993, he composes the music of the TV serial « Les Grandes Marées » with Bernard Lecoq and Nicole Calfan, his wife. The soundtrack becomes a gold record.

In 1995, he does it again for the serial staring Line Renaud and Francis Huster « Les Filles du Lido »

François Valéry is also supposed to have composed the music for the TV serial broadcasted on TF1 « La Relève » by Claude Barroit with Pierre Cosso in 1998.

He writes and composes the song representing France at the 1993 Eurovision song contest. « Mama Corsica » is sung by the young Patrick Fiori on 13th May 1993 in Ireland ; this song finishes 4th.

In 1993, he composes the song "As you want" for Lova Moor.

On 1st June 1994, François is at « Sacrée Soirée » and on 4th June at « La chance aux chansons », a show by Pascal Sevran, where he sings "Une chanson d'été" 20 years later.

It is in 1994 that the -almost- complete series of François’ songs is released as CDs in a 5-CD case. Here is the dedication published on the compilation CD jacket which is released separately :

At the beginning of 1995, François Valéry and Lova Moor would have spinned out love's sweet dream, with amongst other things a romantic escape in Guadeloupe immortalized by some paparazzi. In fact, it would only be a friendship relationship, François supporting Lova whose companion Alain Bernardin had died six months earlier. François Valéry has her make a record and also give her the first part of his show. In March 1996, one see again Lova and François as a courting couple in the Alpe-d'Huez this time.

François Valéry is particularly honoured to get on 27th January 1998, the Arts and Literature Insignia from the hands of Alain Delon, his idol.

In 1998, François performs in the  show « Vivement Dimanche » by Drucker on 21st March and in « Les Années Tubes » on 2^nd April.

In summer 98 François Valéry is the star of the summer tour of the Var-Matin newspaper. Almost 40 dates and an audience of more than 150 000 persons.

François Valéry has sold more than 40 millions of records.

On 28th 2001, his father dies at the age of 86.

On 24th October 2001: «l’Ombre d’un Géant» music is introduced to the show-biz world in the Fouquet’s (restaurant). The premiere takes place on 11th February 2002 at the Mogador theatre and will be followed by 42 performances. Following such a success, Rose Laurens announces on TV that the musical is to be followed by 50 more performances at the  Folies-Bergères from 10th April 2002 onwards.....but the De Baecque-Beau bank does not to fulfil its commitment and refuses a cheque provoking the bankruptcy of the “Rubis Production” producing company and François is personally in big financial difficulties as well.

In May 2002, the bank summons François Valéry in front of the  court:  it wants to have its money back till the last euro, capital and interests. François Valéry counter-attacks : he holds the bank responsible for his ruin. The bank will be condemned in June 2004 by the Nanterre bankruptcy court for «sloppy and faulty management of a loan contract» to pay 50 000 euros to François Valéry. But François thinks this amount is derisory in comparison with the inflicted prejudice and lodges an appeal, requesting 24,5 million euros. Further to the trial, the TF1 show « Droit de Savoir » dated 7th September devotes a report about it.

On Tuesday 21st May, François has a heart attack and Jérémy, his son, has to call the Samu (the French Mobile accident unit). François will be transported to the emergency unit of the American Hospital in Paris. It is only at night fall that Jérémy is reassured about his father’s fate, who has to remain under observation for the night. He leaves the hospital the next day with the stringent order from his doctors to rest. He was exhausted because of the preparation of the musical and the 43 performances of« L'ombre d'un géant ».

In 2003, for the rugby world cup and the Five-Nations Championship, François Valéry composes the official anthem of the XV de France "Standing Ovation" on lyrics by Ann Calvert, sung by three young girls under the name of Standing Ovation. While he is at it, François composes them a 11-song CD.

François Valéry has been the guest of Isabelle Giordano in "Le fabuleux destin de.." show during week starting 10th May 2004.

On 3rd of January, François underwent an eye surgery (a glaucoma and a cataract) in a Parisian hospital. The operation went well.

On 24th February 2005, François has just lost his appeal trial against his bank. He has decided to take the affair to the Court of cassation.

!! many THANKS to Laurence for this translation !!

Biography written by the webmaster based on articles of the french magazines Podium, Salut Les Copains, Salut, France Dimanche, Ici Paris, Jours de France, Stéphanie, OK!, Hit, Melle Age Tendre, Tilt, Nous Deux, Ciné Revue, Boys et Girls, Confidences, Télé 7 jours, Top 50, Corse Matin, VSD, Platine,.....