André Claveau was a French singer and actor.
Born in Paris as the only son of Marcel Désiré Claveau and Suzanne Lebarz, he initially apprenticed as a woodworker and cabinet maker. After also working in graphic design and jewelry making, he began his music career in the 1930s when he participated and won an amateur contest hosted by Le Poste Parisien with the song Chez Moi. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, he performed a multiple concerts across the continent, and garnered even more fame even throughout the Occupation.
However, this came at a cost after the war, because he was temporarily banned from the radio as a presenter. Nevertheless, his music career reached his peak, as he became known as "The Prince of Song", and Charlie Chaplin comparing him to Bing Crosby.
He represented his country at the 1958 Contest with the song Dors, mon amour. He won the contest with 27 points and was the first performer to win for France. This also made him the first male winner and the only winner in their forties until Toto Cutugno in 1990
Along with his music career, Claveau appeared and performed in a number of French films. However, his profile declined in the 1960s due to the rise of yéyé music, which triggered his retirement at the end of the decade.
Claveau died of a cerebal embolism on 4th July 2003 in Agen.
Eurovision Song Contest 1958 | |||
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