Henri Dès, whose real name is Henri Destraz, is a Swiss singer-songwriter born on December 14, 1940 in Renens, in the canton of Vaud. After beginning his career in adult music in the 1960s - including an appearance for Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1970 - he quickly turned to children's songs, a field in which he became an emblematic figure. His first children's album, Cache-Cache, was released in 1977, and was an immediate success thanks to its simple melodies, tender lyrics and benevolent tone. From then on, Henri Dès built up a warm, accessible musical universe, appealing directly to the imagination of young children while respecting their intelligence and sensitivity. His songs such as "La Petite Charlotte", "Mon p'tit loup" and "Les Bêtises à l'école" soon became classics in French homes and schools. He founded his own label, Disques Mary-Josée, named after his wife, in order to maintain complete artistic freedom. An independent artist, he criss-crossed the French-speaking world for decades, filling concert halls with intergenerational concerts where parents sang along with their children. Henri Dès is appreciated for his gentle voice, natural empathy and sincere commitment to the well-being of children. Still active after a career spanning almost fifty years, he continues to create, perform and adapt his repertoire, while remaining true to the idea that children deserve quality songs, without mawkishness or oversimplification.
