Born November 28: Michel Berger, unforgettable singer gone too soon

It was on November 28, 1947, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, that Michel Hamburger was born. 

When he was six years old, his father, an emeritus professor of medicine, left home, having become amnesiac after having had an operation. Taking refuge in music, particularly the piano, the young boy found support from his mother, a concert pianist. Together, they let express what quickly appeared to them as a gift. Years later, the young singer would choose Berger as his stage name, leaving behind the name of his father, whom he had barely known.

It was at the time of "Salut les copains" that Michel Berger took his first steps as a singer. He then released a few 45s that were not successful and then tried his hand at production. He's the one who produced two of the albums by Véronique Sanson, his partner at the time. It was after his breakup with the latter that Michel Berger tried to relaunch his career, with an album called "Cœur bris". 

He had to wait for the title "Écoute la musique" to experience his first real success, which was however followed by several disappointments, the albums following one another but not really taking off. In 1976, he married his partner of several years, France Gall, for whom he would subsequently produce all of her albums. 

It was with "Starmania", which he produced with Luc Plamondon, that the public finally acclaimed his talent. It was on the back of an album that Michel Berger had discovered Plamondon's name. Even at four in the morning, motivated by his instinct, the singer couldn't help but call the lyricist when he had an idea in mind and wanted to talk to him about it. A few months later, the rock opera that they had imagined together set the crowds on fire, carried by a choice cast that included France Gall and Daniel Balavoine.

His career was finally really launched and the success of his next album confirmed it. Let anyone who has never hummed "La groupie du pianiste" denounce themselves. On this same opus, "Celui qui chante" and "Quelques mots d'amour" are two other hits that cross generations. Even if his personal career took off, the artist continued to put his talent at the service of other singers, notably Johnny Hallyday for whom he would produce an album.

His last success was "Le paradis blanc" in 1992, following a heart attack that occurred in his house in Ramatuelle during a tennis game. He was barely 44 years old.

(Céline Massart - Transl.: MH - Photo: © Etienne Tordoir)
Photo: Michel Berger on the stage of Forest-National in Brussels (Belgium) on January 27, 1984