The singer Leny Escudero died at age 82 – Le Figaro

DISAPPEARANCE – The wife of the performer For a love affair on Friday announced the artist’s death from respiratory failure

Long Hair, mop in battle as capped by the wind, he had a romantic allure, Leny Escudero, when the fame came upon him in a few unforgettable songs. That was in 1962. A first disc at Bel Air. He sang for several years at the mercy of random commitments, while living doing odd jobs. A poet, a free man who clashed, while pop music wave would invade everything.

Leny Escudero died this Friday, October 9th. Born November 5, 1932, in Espinal, Spain, he would be 83 years. He finished this summer the second volume of his autobiography. Following My life has not started, work published two years ago (Le Cherche Midi). He mischievously titled this new book The First … more … the end.

We have more idea today of the very special place it held from its inception, in the French song. With For a love affair and Ballade Sylvie , he had become famous. A deep look, a slightly hooked nose which gave a lot of character to his thin face, a scrawny student silhouette. And a voice. A unique voice, hoarse with veiled shimmering of indescribable sadness. A sense of texts, very beautiful, melancholy, a sense of melodies, catchy.

Republican at heart

It has always been there the revolt in him. But this rebel is friendly to others. It seeks nothing to make a legend.

We hear so much on the radio. It happens in TV shows. It has just over 30 years. He breaks the first time, in 1965, with success, to go see the world. A grand tour as a good worker would have made the tour of France. It will stop later in Africa to help build the future other than him.

There has always been rebellion in him. But this rebel is friendly to others. It seeks nothing to make a legend. It is still only a small child when civil war broke out. His parents, of gypsy origin for the father, the mother Marrano, are poor and illiterate. But this does not prevent consciousness. They are Republicans.

He is 6 years old when her parents took refuge in France. His father was in detention for the Argelès camp. By rough roads, Joachim Leny Escudero will win the Mayenne where his family prepare. He vowed deep gratitude to his teachers at that school in the Republic to which he said as duty, even if he had never really supported the authority.

Very early he composes, writes, sings. In Belleville, where he settled at the end of adolescence, he wants to be tiler. From a craftsman, he learned his craft but continues to dream song.

Like a love affair and Ballade Sylvie followed many other great success: For Malypense, Little Mother, The Big Farce, etc. His sense of melody, his manner of writing songs like short stories, his peculiar voice, attracted a broad circle. Kinda like Léo Ferré whom he resembles per the requirement, commitment, sincerity.

Clairvoyant and generous

If a singer-songwriter loved, he is also a sought cinema actor. By the 1960s, some directors, attracted by his strong personality, offer him roles. In fact, until the dawn of the 2000s, was revised Leny Escudero here and there in movies or on TV.

In 1971, his album Escudero 71 receives the grand prize of Academy Charles Cros. In 1973, he had mentioned the war in Spain in his live album for ideas; in 1977, he was taken to dictators and ordinary bad guys in Planet of crazy.

He stood straight, without moving. Only hands, saying, lightly press the words.

Life had passed. Married with three children, Julian that long accompanied his father on stage, he had the joy and pride to see some of his grandchildren in turn compose music. This far-sighted and generous man, who had been setbacks, of desert crossings, if ressourçait reading Franz Kafka, Louis-Ferdinand Céline and writers of the day because he was fascinated by the era, although he loved living in away.

In the years 1980-1990, it still gave recitals throughout France, in large rooms. And there was the world. We had seen him at the Bataclan in 1997 while his revolutionary songs CD had just been published. That suited her, the Bataclan. He did not change. He stood straight, without moving. Only hands, saying, lightly press the words.

We did not forget. As Fabrice Luchini, who had invited four years ago on the set of “Confidentially Yours”, the show of Michel Drucker. Speaking of words, music, words and music of great literature.