French singer-songwriter Pierre Vassiliu was born on October 23, 1937 in
Villecresnes, Val-de-Marne, France. After a tumultuous early adolescence, he
left home at the age of 15 to become an apprentice jockey, earning his living by
giving riding lessons. He then became an army photographer during the Algerian
war, and joined Mireille's Petit Conservatoire on his return to civilian life.
During this period, he accompanied himself on guitar and performed in numerous
Parisian cabarets. Although the fashion at the time was for yéyé, he imposed his
style and found his audience with his...