Author, composer and performer Joël Covrigaru, also known as Joël Holmès, was born on August 1, 1928 in Tighina, Romania. Immigrating to France in 1934, he always loved French chanson, with a particular admiration for Charles Trenet, and his father made him learn the violin for two years. Left on his own at the age of 14 after his parents were deported, he worked for Renault for several years. He took up music again, learning the guitar by interpreting other artists before writing his own songs. In 1954, he entered Mireille's Petit Conservatoire and performed in Paris's Left Bank cabarets. Here he met Maurice Fanon, Georges Moustaki and Pascal Sevran, with whom he remained close throughout his life. Winner of Europe 1's "Numéros 1 de demain" competition, he recorded his eponymous debut album in 1959. The singer released fourteen Ep until 1966, including La Pierre (1959), La mer m'a donné (1960), whose eponymous title was co-written with Moustaki, and "Jean-Marie de Pantin " with Fanon. Seven albums followed, including 1963, signed to Columbia and awarded the Grand Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros. The singer gave up music when the yé-yé wave swept through France. Keeping his creative spirit, he pursued a career in advertising. His friend Pascal Sevran reissued some twenty songs in his collection La Chance aux Chansons, and encouraged him to write a few new songs, which he performed on the TV show in the 1990s. Joël Holmès passed away on September 2, 2009.
