Hélène Martin (French: [elɛn maʁtɛ̃], 10 December 1928 – 21 February 2021) was a French singer and songwriter.

Hélène Martin
Hélène Martin
Background information
Born	(1928-12-10)10 December 1928 Paris, France
Died	21 February 2021(2021-02-21) (aged 92) Cordemais, France
Genres	Chanson
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)	Vocals
Years active	1956 (1956)–2009 (2009)
Labels	Cavalier EPM Musique Universal
Website	www.helene-martin.com

Biography

Born in Paris, Martin was daughter of a university professor (Sciences Po), and started singing in cabarets in the 1950s.[1] In 1962, she recorded poems by Jean Genet who encouraged her.[1] Jean Vilar asked her to stage a show based on poems by René Char for the Festival d'Avignon, interpreted by her and Roger Blin, Francesca Solleville, Bachir Touré (1966).[1] She was a friend of many poets and writers, including Louis Aragon and Jean Giono. Surrealist poet Philippe Soupault published a book on her and her work.[2]

She created a TV series dedicated to poetry, Plain-Chant (1972).[3] She also directed a TV movie after Jean Giono's novel Jean le Bleu (1979).[4] In 2009, aged 81, she gave a last performance at the Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord.[5]

Discography

• 1996: Hélène Martin chante les poètes, EPM Musique. Songs recorded 1962-1983, with Laurent Terzieff.
• 2000: La Douceur du bagne, book & CD, EPM/Le Castor astral[6]
• 2002: Le Condamné à mort, sung by Marc Ogeret, music Hélène Martin, recorded 1970, EPM "poètes et chansons".
• 2003: Lucienne Desnoues, reissue, EPM "poètes et chansons"
• 2006: Jean Genet, Un chant d'amour, Buda Musique, with Richard Armstrong.
• 2006: Chansons pour les enfants, EPM Musique, 2006.[7]
• 2006: Va savoir, EPM[8]
• 2007: Pablo Neruda, de la poésie à la lutte. Includes L'Elégie à Pablo Neruda sung by Hélène Martin.
• 2007: Terres mutilées followed by Dans mon pays, poems by René Char, 1968, reissue, EPM "Poésie".[9]
• 2008: Journal d'une voix, Des femmes-Antoinette Fouque.[10]
• 2009-2010: Voyage en Hélénie, 13-CD case.[11]

Awards

• 1961: Grand Prix du Disque[1]
• 1967: Prix de l'Humour noir.[12]
• 2009: Prix Jacques Douai

References