Salvador, Henri Gabriel

▪ 2009

      French entertainer

born July 18, 1917, Cayenne, French Guiana

died Feb. 13, 2008, Paris, France

enjoyed a lengthy career as a singer and songwriter, with a musical range that included French chansons, jazz, novelty songs, and children's songs. In the 1930s Salvador played guitar with jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, and during World War II he toured in South America with bandleader Ray Ventura, which brought a South American influence into his work. In 1947 Salvador's first recording, “Maladie de l'amour,” was a hit, and he enjoyed great popularity thereafter. One of his best-known songs from this period of his career was “Le Loup, la biche, et le chevalier (une chanson douce).” In the 1950s Salvador began writing and recording novelty rock-and-roll songs with Boris Vian, including “Rock and Roll Mops” and “Le Blues du dentiste.” In the 1970s he concentrated on children's music, released on his own Rigolo label, but he returned to adult music late in the decade. In 2000 he topped the charts with the album Chambre de vue. Salvador was named a knight in the French Legion of Honour in 1988 and was elevated to commander in 2004.

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