81 Facts About Jacques Brel

Jacques Romain Georges Brel was a Belgian singer and actor who composed and performed theatrical songs.

Jacques Brel is considered a master of the modern chanson.

Jacques Brel directed two films, one of which, Le Far West, was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1973.

Jacques Brel married Therese "Miche" Michielsen in 1950, and the couple had three children.

Jacques Brel had a romantic relationship with actress and dancer Maddly Bamy from 1972 until his death in 1978.

Jacques Romain Georges Brel was born on 8 April 1929 in Schaerbeek, Brussels, to Elisabeth Lambertine "Lisette" and Romain Brel.

Jacques Brel came from a family of Flemish descent ; part of his family originated in Zandvoorde, near Ypres.

Jacques Brel was close to his mother, fascinated by her generosity and sense of humour, which he inherited.

Jacques Brel helped set up the school's drama club, taking on his first stage roles with great enthusiasm.

In 1944, at the age of 15, Jacques Brel began playing the guitar.

Jacques Brel supported these activities with great enthusiasm and believed strongly in FC's mission.

Jacques Brel's parents were pleased with their son's dedication, and provided him with the company van and family car to support his FC activities.

In June 1948, Jacques Brel enlisted for military service, did his basic training in Limbourg, and served as a corporal in the Belgian air force stationed at Groenveld barracks in Zellik near Brussels.

In 1952 Jacques Brel began writing songs and performing them at family gatherings and on Brussels' cabaret circuit.

In January 1953, Jacques Brel performed at the cabaret La Rose Noire in Brussels.

The talent scout and artistic director at the record company, Jacques Brel Canetti, invited him to move to Paris.

In Paris Jacques Brel worked hard to get his career off the ground.

Jacques Brel stayed at the Hotel Stevens and gave guitar lessons to artist-dancer Francesco Frediani to pay his rent.

Jacques Brel found work on the cabaret circuit at venues such as L'Ecluse, L'Echelle de Jacob, and in Jacques Canetti's cabaret Les Trois Baudets.

In 1954 Jacques Brel participated in the music contest Grand Prix de la Chanson in Knokke-le-Zoute, finishing a disappointing 27th out of 28 participants.

Jacques Brel went on to record the song that spring.

In July 1954, Jacques Brel made his first appearance at the prestigious Olympia Theatre in Paris.

In February 1955, Jacques Brel met Georges "Jojo" Pasquier, who would become the singer's closest friend, manager, and personal chauffeur.

Jacques Brel began singing with a number of Christian associations, which later led to his nickname of Abbe Brel.

In March 1956, Jacques Brel performed in North Africa, Amsterdam, Lausanne, and throughout Belgium.

In February 1957, Jacques Brel performed at the Alhambra Theatre with Maurice Chevalier, Michel Legrand, and ballet dancer Zizi Jeanmaire.

In January 1959, Jacques Brel signed a new recording contract with Philips Records.

Jacques Brel was so popular that he was invited to headline the end-of-year concert at the renowned Bobino in Paris.

Jacques Brel's appearances initiated the first United States release of a Jacques Brel recording, American Debut, released on Columbia Records.

In January 1961, Jacques Brel made a triumphant return to the Bobino.

In March 1962, Jacques Brel left Philips Records and signed a five-year contract with Barclay Records.

Jacques Brel's first album release for his new label was a live album, Enregistrement Public a l'Olympia 1961, recorded the previous year.

Jacques Brel returned for another triumphant engagement at the Olympia in Paris, performing with Isabelle Aubret, who was the support act.

Jacques Brel was awarded the French Academy's Grand Prix du Disque.

Jacques Brel's performance was received with high public and critical acclaim.

In subsequent public statements, Jacques Brel stated that he had nothing more to give to the music world and that he wanted to devote more time to other projects.

Jacques Brel spent the next six months fulfilling his concert commitments.

Jacques Brel returned to France in the spring and, on 16 May 1967, he gave his final concert performance in Roubaix in northern France.

Toward the end of the year, with vague plans of sailing around the world, Jacques Brel purchased a yacht.

In October 1968, his musical L'Homme de La Mancha premiered in Brussels, with Jacques Brel playing Don Quixote and Dario Moreno playing Sancho Panza.

Jacques Brel adapted the book, translated the lyrics, directed the production, and played the lead role.

In March 1970 Jacques Brel gave a one-off performance at the Salle Pleyel in Paris.

In 1972 Jacques Brel signed a special 30-year contract with Barclay Records.

In 1967 Brel began his film career, appearing in Andre Cayatte's Les risques du metier, co-starring Emmanuelle Riva, Jacques Harden, and Nadine Alari.

In 1968 Jacques Brel appeared in his second film, La Bande a Bonnot, directed by Philippe Fourastie and co-starring Annie Girardot and Bruno Cremer.

Jacques Brel meets up with his friends who live together with their families in the villa of their political leader.

In 1969 Jacques Brel appeared in his third film, Mon oncle Benjamin, directed by Edouard Molinaro and co-starring Claude Jade and Bernard Blier.

In 1970 Jacques Brel appeared in his fourth feature film, Mont-Dragon, directed by Jean Valere and co-starring Francois Prevost, Paul le Person, and Catherine Rouvel, with a screen play by Robert Margerit.

In 1971 Jacques Brel appeared in his fifth feature film, Franz, the first film he directed.

Jacques Brel co-wrote the screenplay with Paul Andreota and produced the soundtrack with Francois Rauber.

Jacques Brel gradually becomes attracted to his clumsy behaviour and they fall in love.

In 1971 Jacques Brel appeared in his sixth feature film, Les Assassins de l'ordre, directed by Marcel Carne and co-starring Paola Pitagora, Catherine Rouvel, and Charles Denner.

Jacques Brel plays Bernard Level, a provincial judge, who presides over a delicate case.

In 1972 Jacques Brel appeared in his seventh feature film, L'aventure, c'est l'aventure, directed by Claude Lelouch.

Jacques Brel would spend the final years of his life with her.

In 1972 Jacques Brel appeared in his eighth feature film, Le Bar de la fourche, directed by Alain Levent and co-starring Rosy Varte and Isabelle Huppert.

Jacques Brel plays Vincent Van Horst, a hard-drinking bon vivant who loves his freedom and his women.

Jacques Brel finds consolation in another woman, Annie, who looks down on him and drives Vincent and Olivier to fight a duel against each other.

In 1973 Jacques Brel appeared in his ninth feature film, Le Far West, his second directorial effort.

Jacques Brel meets Gabriel, a generous man, who dresses up as Davy Crockett, and who follows Jacques Brel without asking questions.

In 1973 Jacques Brel appeared in his tenth and final feature film, L'emmerdeur, directed by Edouard Molinaro and co-starred Lino Ventura, Caroline Cellier, and Jean-Pierre Darras.

Jacques Brel is paid to kill Louis Randoni, whose testimony in various trials could harm the organisation.

Jacques Brel prepared his will, leaving everything to his wife Miche.

Jacques Brel devoted the final years of his life to his passion for sailing.

Jacques Brel began planning a three-year voyage to circumnavigate the world.

Jacques Brel was suffering from an advanced stage of lung cancer.

In 1976, Jacques Brel returned to Brussels twice for medical examinations.

Jacques Brel purchased a twin-engine plane, which he named Jojo in memory of his lost friend.

Jacques Brel used the private plane to transport food and other supplies to the inhabitants of the neighbouring islands.

Jacques Brel had quit smoking and, despite his poor health, was enthusiastic about working again with his faithful collaborators Francois Rauber and Gerard Jouannest.

Jacques Brel remained in the hospital for six weeks and then spent the rest of the summer in Southern France.

Jacques Brel died of a pulmonary embolism at 4.10 am on 9 October 1978 at the age of 49.

The songs of Jacques Brel have been translated into at least 95 languages.

Jacques Brel recorded two obscure singles in Dutch, "De apen" and "Men vergeet niets", which were included in the 16-CD box set Boite a Bonbons by Barclay.

English versions of Jacques Brel songs have been recorded by a wide variety of artists.

In 1968 an American experimental musical Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris made its debut.

Jacques Brel contributed most of the music and French lyrics.

The compilation Scott Walker Sings Jacques Brel contains all the Brel material that Walker covered on record.

Anonymous Society, Based On The Music Of Jacques Brel ran in 2000 in the Lyric Hammersmith, directed by Andrew Wale.

At least 26 songs by Jacques Brel were translated to Hebrew, and many of these translated versions were recorded by prominent singers, among them the famous Yossi Banai.

Furthermore, releases of Jacques Brel's recordings are sometimes known by different titles.