23 Facts About Eddie Barclay

Eddie Barclay spent much of his early childhood with his grandmother in Taverny.

Eddie Barclay's parents bought the Cafe de la Poste bar in the middle of Paris while he was a child and at the age of 15 he left school to work in the cafe.

Eddie Barclay had not enjoyed his studies but he taught himself music and piano.

Eddie Barclay particularly liked American jazz and embraced the music of Fats Waller.

Eddie Barclay often visited the Hot Club de France to hear the quintet of Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt.

Eddie Barclay became a pianist at "L'Etape" club in rue Godot-de-Mauroy, Paris, where his half-hour sets alternated with the young Louis de Funes, at the start of his career.

Barclay and his wife started "Blue Star Records", using their apartment to store 78 rpm discs, with Barclay delivering them himself.

Eddie Barclay wrote songs with Charles Aznavour and Boris Vian, and with Vian he edited Jazz magazine.

In 1952 Alan Morrison, a visitor to Eddie Barclay's club, had invited him to visit the US to see the new recording technology that enabled the production of 45s and LPs.

In 1955 Eddie Barclay agreed to manufacture and distribute Mercury Records in Europe.

Eddie Barclay took 60 masters to Pathe-Marconi's Paris factory and began promoting the new microgroove format to the French market.

Eddie Barclay's success led to his nickname as "empereur du microsillon".

Eddie Barclay's artistes delighted in the artistic freedom that he afforded them, and in the trust that he placed in their judgement.

Brel left Philips Records to join Eddie Barclay as did Juliette Greco.

Philips threatened to litigate but the matter was settled out of court and Eddie Barclay released Johnny Hallyday to Philips as part of the settlement.

Eddie Barclay's trademark was a white suit, and his Saint-Tropez parties at which all the guests wore white became huge events for the French media.

Eddie Barclay emerged briefly from retirement with a new record label but it was not the success he wished.

In March 1994 Eddie Barclay underwent quadruple bypass surgery after a heart attack.

Eddie Barclay died there during the night of May 12,2005 and was pronounced dead in the morning.

Eddie Barclay has one son, Guillaume, from his third marriage to Marie-Christine Steinberg.

Eddie Barclay co-wrote the songs Quand tu m'embrasses with Charles Aznavour, and Le rock de Monsieur Failair with Boris Vian.

Eddie Barclay wrote the original soundtracks for several films, including Bob le flambeur directed by Jean-Pierre Melville.

Eddie Barclay was notorious for his many wives to the extent that some journalists referred to him as 'Bluebeard'.