Hélène Martin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Hélène Martin | |
|---|---|
 Hélène Martin | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 10 December 1928 Paris, France |
| Died | 21 February 2021 (aged 92) Cordemais, France |
| Genres | Chanson |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1956–2009 |
| Labels |
|
| Website | www |
Hélène Martin (French: [elɛn maʁtɛ̃]; 10 December 1928 – 21 February 2021) was a French singer-songwriter.
Born in Paris, Martin was daughter of a university professor (Sciences Po), and started singing in cabarets in the 1950s.[1] In 1962, she recorded poems by Jean Genet who encouraged her.[1] Jean Vilar asked her to stage a show based on poems by René Char for the Festival d'Avignon, interpreted by her and Roger Blin, Francesca Solleville, Bachir Touré (1966).[1] She was a friend of many poets and writers, including Louis Aragon and Jean Giono. Surrealist poet Philippe Soupault published a book on her and her work.[2]
She created a TV series dedicated to poetry, Plain-Chant (1972).[3] She also directed a TV movie after Jean Giono's novel Jean le Bleu (1979).[4] In 2009, aged 81, she gave a last performance at the Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord.[5]
