An Iconic Journey Through Music

Michèle Torr was born on April 7, 1947 in the Luberon region of France. A precocious child, she took her first steps on stage at the age of 6 and began singing lessons. Her talent was already dazzling, and she won all the competitions in her region. At the age of 14, she won 1st prize in a radio crochet competition, which enabled her to open for Jacques Brel at the Palais des Papes in Avignon.

Supported by her parents, she decided to try her luck in Paris. The very same year she arrived in Paris, aged just 16, she signed her first contract with Mercury. Her first single, C’est dur d’avoir 16, was released in 1964, followed by Dans mes bras, oublie ta peine. It was an instant hit with the public, and earned her a “Chouchou” rating on the legendary Salut les Copains TV show, as well as a place in the Hit Parade. That same year, she performed at L’Olympia for the first time, opening for Claude François. She even represented Luxembourg at the 1966 Eurovision Song Contest, and her popularity continued to grow.

In the 70’s, she moved on to romantic songs and became a popular artist, a French chanson staple, thanks to titles such as Une petite française, Emmène moi danser ce soir and À faire pleurer les femmes. She exported herself beyond French borders, recording Spanish, English and even Japanese versions of her songs.

She wrote some of her own lyrics, but most were penned by successful songwriters such as Pierre Delanoë, Didier Barbelivien and Gilles Bernheim.

She released a number of albums, for which she became producer in 1996: Seule, Portrait de scènes, C’est l’amour and many others. Michèle Torr became a respected figure in French chanson, with a loyal following. In 1997, she was named Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the Minister of Culture, then elevated to the rank of Officier des Arts et des Lettres in 2002. An artist with a big heart, she takes part in humanitarian and charitable actions. She launched the “Michèle’s Tuesdays” campaign, with proceeds going to feed children in Sudan. She is also president of a cancer support association.

Michèle Torr remains a fixture in the 2000s, after a career spanning forty years. In 2005, she even published an autobiography, entitled La couleur des mots. She regularly takes part in the Age tendre et tête de bois tour. In 2012, she successfully multiplied her concerts in Canada, then in 2013, still attracting audiences, she went on a triumphant tour of France and Belgium.

In her private life, Michèle Torr had a romance with singer Christophe in the 60s. The couple had a son, Romain, born in 1967, but Christophe refused to acknowledge him. In 1969, she married Jean Vidal, with whom she had a daughter, Emilie (born 1973). The couple divorced in the early 90s. In 1995, she remarried Jean-Pierre Murzilli. Two years later they separated, before reuniting again some time later. In May 2019, she announced their separation in an interview with Nice-Matin.

Pablo Casals