Jacques Brel | Artist

Jacques Romain Georges Brel was a Belgian singer, songwriter, actor and director born 1929 in Schaerbeek, Belgium. He composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following—initially in Belgium and France, later throughout the world. He is considered a master of the modern chanson and a major influence on English-speaking songwriters and performers, such as Scott Walker, David Bowie, Alex Harvey, Marc Almond and Rod McKuen. Over his career Brel released 17 consistently excellent studio albums and sold over 25 million records worldwide. Standout albums include No.4, No.5, Jacques Brel (Jef), Jacques Brel (Ces Gens-Là), Jacques Brel (J'arrive), Brel (Le Marquises) and the live album À l'Olympia. English translations of his songs were recorded by many performers, including David Bowie, Scott Walker, Ray Charles, Judy Collins, John Denver, Nina Simone, Shirley Bassey, Frank Sinatra and Andy Williams. Scott Walker in particular captured the magic of Brel's work with his rendition of songs such as "Madeline", "Mathilde" and "Amsterdam". Brel was also a successful actor, appearing in 10 films. He directed two films, one of which, Le Far West, was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1973.

Artist Website: jacquesbrel.be

Featured Albums: Jacques Brel

Related Artists: Scott Walker, Nina Simone

Video Clips: Ne Me Quitte Pas, Amsterdam, Mathilde