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Dick Rivers
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Key Information
Hervé Forneri (French pronunciation: [ɛʁve fɔʁnɛʁi]; 24 April 1945 – 24 April 2019), known professionally as Dick Rivers, was a French singer and actor who began performing in the early 1960s.[1] He was an important figure in introducing rock and roll music in France. He was an admirer of Elvis Presley, who influenced both his singing and looks. His stage name came from the character, Deke Rivers, that Presley played in his second film, Loving You (1957).
Biography
[edit]Rivers was born in Nice, France. He started his music career in 1960 as the lead singer of the band Les Chats Sauvages, cutting his first record on his fifteenth birthday. In 1961, the British music magazine NME reported that a Rivers concert with his group Les Chats Sauvages at the Palais des Sports de Paris, whilst headlining with Vince Taylor, had turned into a full-scale riot.[2] Rivers left Les Chats Sauvages in 1962 to pursue a solo career.
His last album, Rivers, was released in 2014.
He died in Neuilly-sur-Seine in 2019, from cancer, on his 74th birthday.[3]
Selected discography
[edit]- 1964 Rien que toi
- 1971 Bye Bye Lily
- 1971 Dick n'Roll
- 1972 The Rock Machine
- 1974 Rock & roll star
- 1976 Mississippi River's
- 1994 Very Dick (compilation album)
- 1995 Plein Soleil
- 1996 AuthenDick (live album)
- 1998 Vivre comme ça... entre la terre et l'amour
- 2001 Amoureux de vous
References
[edit]- ^ "Le chanteur français Dick Rivers meurt le jour de son anniversaire". Radio-Canada.ca (in Canadian French). 24 April 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
- ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 91. CN 5585.
- ^ "Dick Rivers, French rock star inspired by Elvis and admired by the Beatles – obituary", Telegraph, 29 April 209. Retrieved 6 December 2019
External links
[edit]
Media related to Dick Rivers at Wikimedia Commons- Official website (in French)
- Dick Rivers at IMDb
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Dick Rivers
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Dick Rivers is a French singer and actor known for his pioneering role in introducing and popularizing rock and roll in France during the early 1960s, often regarded as the "French Elvis Presley" for his vocal style, stage presence, and deep admiration for Elvis Presley.[1][2] Born Hervé Forneri in Nice on April 24, 1945, he co-founded the influential band Les Chats Sauvages in 1961, helping to spark the rock and twist craze in France with hits like Twist à Saint-Tropez and Est-ce que tu le sais?.[1][3]
After leaving the group in 1962 to pursue a solo career—adopting his stage name from the Elvis Presley character in the film Loving You—Rivers released a prolific series of albums that showcased his versatility across rock, soul, country, and experimental styles.[2][1] He collaborated with notable figures such as Alain Bashung in the 1970s on albums including The Rock Machine and Rock & Roll Star, recorded with American musicians in Alabama and Texas, and adapted works by artists like the Beatles, Buddy Holly, and Roy Orbison.[1] His career included highlights such as the acclaimed 1967 album Dick Rivers Story, the psychedelic L'? (1969), and later tributes like Holly Days in Austin (1991), alongside revivals in the 1990s and 2000s with albums featuring contributions from contemporary French artists.[2][3]
Beyond music, Rivers hosted a rock program on Radio Monte-Carlo from 1982 to 1992, appeared in films such as La Candide Madame Duff (1999) and Le Furet (2003), and performed in theater.[3] He remained an enduring figure in French rock until his death from cancer on April 24, 2019, his 74th birthday.[1][3]
Early Life
Childhood in Nice
Hervé Forneri, who later adopted the stage name Dick Rivers, was born on April 24, 1945, in Nice, France. [3] [1] [4] He was the only child of a couple of butchers, with his father André Forneri running a family butcher shop in the Vieux Nice district or along Avenue de la République. [3] [5] His mother, Marie-Thérèse, worked as a housewife and assisted with the shop's bookkeeping. [4] Forneri spent his childhood in Nice, growing up in the environment of his family's modest butcher business amid the city's post-war setting. [3] [4] The nearby presence of American military personnel stationed in Villefranche-sur-Mer exposed him early to American culture, including Hollywood films and music. [5] [4]Discovery of Rock 'n' Roll and Stage Name
Hervé Forneri discovered rock 'n' roll as a young teenager when he heard Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" on a jukebox while growing up near Nice, an experience that ignited his passion for the genre and convinced him he wanted to pursue rock music.[6] Influenced by the presence of American naval personnel and their cultural imports, including jukeboxes and films, he became particularly drawn to Elvis Presley's music and cinema appearances.[6] He adopted the stage name Dick Rivers directly from the character Deke Rivers, portrayed by Elvis Presley in the 1957 film Loving You, but altered it to "Dick" because "Deke" would have been pronounced "Dé-ké" in French, which he felt did not suit the image he wanted.[6] In his early teens, around 1958–1959, Forneri formed an amateur group called Jerry Joyce and the Joycemen, reflecting the American and English origins of their musical idols.[6] The group represented his initial foray into performing rock 'n' roll before he later sought greater opportunities in Paris.[6]Career with Les Chats Sauvages
Formation and Early Recordings
In 1961, at age 15–16, Dick Rivers formed the rock and roll group Les Chats Sauvages in Nice, with an initial lineup including lead vocalist Dick Rivers, guitarists John Rob and James Fawler (the Roboly brothers), bassist Jack Regard, and drummer Willy Lewis. [7] The band signed with Pathé-Marconi and released their debut super 45 tours (EP) in May 1961 on the Pathé label (Pathé EA 485). [7] The debut EP featured the tracks Le Jour J, En avant l’amour, Ma p’tite amie est vache, and J’ai pris dans tes yeux. [7] Alongside Les Chaussettes Noires, Les Chats Sauvages were among the first major French yé-yé rock groups, introducing adapted American rock and roll and twist styles to French audiences through these initial Pathé releases. [8]Breakthrough Hits and Live Performances
Les Chats Sauvages achieved their breakthrough in 1961 with key recordings that captured the emerging French rock 'n' roll and twist scene, including the popular track "Est-ce que tu le sais?", an adaptation of Ray Charles' "What'd I Say". [2] [7] Other notable early tracks included those from 1961 releases, while major hits like "Twist à Saint-Tropez" followed in 1962, becoming emblematic of the group's energetic style and the yé-yé era's fascination with American-inspired dance crazes. [2] These songs solidified Les Chats Sauvages' position as one of the most important early French rock 'n' roll groups, alongside acts like Les Chaussettes Noires, pioneering the genre in France during its brief "pure" phase around 1960–early 1962. [9] Their music reflected strong influences from artists like Gene Vincent, with Dick Rivers' vocal delivery often compared to the American rocker. [9] The band's live shows were equally intense and drew massive crowds, exemplified by their headline performance at the Palais des Sports de Paris in 1961 alongside Vince Taylor. [10] The concert reportedly escalated into a full-scale riot, as noted in a contemporary report by the British music magazine NME. [10] Such chaotic events were characteristic of early rock concerts in France, where enthusiastic audiences sometimes led to destruction of property amid the excitement. [9]Departure and Transition to Solo
Dick Rivers left Les Chats Sauvages in the summer of 1962 to pursue a solo career, following creative differences and a desire for independence after the band's earlier successes. [11] [12] In September 1962, he launched his solo career with the release of the super 45 tours "Baby John," which achieved significant success by selling 200,000 copies. [13] [12] Soon after, he performed as headliner for a week at the Théâtre de l'Étoile in Paris, backed by his newly formed English group, the Krewkats, marking a key step in establishing his solo presence on the French music scene. [12] [14]Solo Music Career
1960s Breakthrough and International Reach
Dick Rivers embarked on his solo career in 1962 following his departure from Les Chats Sauvages, quickly establishing himself with adaptations of American hits tailored for French audiences. [15] [16] His 1963 single "Tu n’es plus là," an adaptation of Roy Orbison's "Blue Bayou," marked a significant breakthrough and solidified his popularity in France. [16] [17] In 1965, Rivers achieved further success with "Va t’en va t’en," his French version of the Moody Blues' "Go Now," which topped the hit parade on the influential Salut les copains program. [16] That same year, he gained international exposure as the only French artist invited to perform on the British television special The Music of Lennon & McCartney, where he delivered a French-language rendition of "Things We Said Today." [18] [16] The 1966 album Mister Pitiful showcased his shift toward rhythm and blues, featuring covers that highlighted his versatility in interpreting American soul and rock material. [15] During this period, Rivers enjoyed particular popularity in Quebec, where tracks such as "Viens me faire oublier" and "Jéricho" resonated strongly with audiences. [16] "Viens me faire oublier" earned a gold record in Canada in 1967. [16] In 1968, he traveled to the United States to record Dick Rivers Story at Muscle Shoals studios, working with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, the backing band renowned for supporting Aretha Franklin and other soul artists. [16] The following year, Rivers released the concept album L’Interrogation, a collaborative project incorporating narration and songwriting contributions from Gérard Manset. [19] [20]1970s Experimentation and Collaborations
In the 1970s, Dick Rivers explored new musical directions, moving from traditional rock 'n' roll to English-language covers and a pronounced country-rock influence. He released Dick 'n' Roll in 1971, an album of classic rock 'n' roll reprises, followed by The Rock Machine in 1972 and Rockin' Along... The River's Country Side in 1972, the latter signaling the start of his country-rock phase. [21] [15] This period featured significant collaboration with Alain Bashung, who served as artistic director for Rivers' label and contributed lyrics and music to albums including Dick n'Roll and The Rock Machine. [22] In 1973, they formed the group The Rock Band Revival, which released two albums of covers honoring major American rock standards, with both artists sharing lead vocals on various tracks. [22] Rivers continued experimenting with country-rock sounds, often recording in Louisiana, resulting in albums such as Mississippi Rivers in 1975 (featuring his French adaptation "Faire un pont" of "Take Me Home Country Roads"), Dixie in 1976, and Je continue mon rock 'n' slow in 1978. [21] His 1974 album Rock and Roll Star included the notable single "Maman n’aime pas ma musique," an adaptation of "Mama Sure Could Swing a Deal." [21]Later Career and Final Albums
In the 1980s, Dick Rivers continued recording and released the album Tendre Teddy Boy in 1980. [21] He achieved a late major hit with "Nice Baie des Anges" in 1984. In 1982, he temporarily reunited with Les Chats Sauvages for an anniversary album marking the group's 20th anniversary. [1] He hosted the radio program L’Âge d’or de la pop music on RMC from 1986 to 1989. His activities continued into later decades with a series of albums: Plein Soleil in 1995, AuthenDick (live) in 1996, Amoureux de vous in 2001, Dick Rivers in 2006, L’Homme sans âge in 2008, Mister D in 2011, and Rivers in 2014. [21] [1] [23] In 1990, he toured with Francis Cabrel on the Rock and Roll Show featuring English-language standards. In 2018, he participated in the Âge tendre nostalgia tour and undertook a solo 100% rock'n'roll tour. His final concert took place on December 16, 2018, at Le Thor in Vaucluse. [24] [25]Acting Career
Film and Television Roles
Dick Rivers' acting career was limited and began relatively late compared to his primary work as a rock musician, consisting mainly of supporting or guest roles in French television and film. His on-screen debut came in 1988 with a guest appearance (credited as Invité) in one episode of the television series Boulevard Bouvard. [26] After an extended hiatus, he returned to acting in 1999 with a one-episode role as Le maréchal Nouvoilà in the television series L'Oeil du cyclone. [26] This marked the beginning of a brief period of more consistent screen work, including two collaborations with director Jean-Pierre Mocky: he played the supporting role of Inspecteur Levy in the feature film La candide madame Duff (2000) and portrayed El Malo in the feature film Le Furet (2003). [26] Rivers continued with minor television appearances, taking the role of MC Dick in the 2004 series Le monde de Chico and playing Chalopin in the 2007 TV movie Un amour de fantôme. [26] These credits remained occasional and secondary to his music career, reflecting a modest presence in the acting world. [26]Voice Acting Work
Dick Rivers participated in voice acting for a handful of animated projects, primarily through dubbing roles in Disney sequels and a part in a French production. He provided the French dubbing for Shere Khan in Le Livre de la jungle 2, the 2003 European French version of Disney's The Jungle Book 2. [27] In 2005, Rivers voiced the character Zugor in the European French dub of Tarzan 2 : L'Enfance d'un héros. [28] [29] His most notable original voice role came in 2006 as Le passeur in the French animated film Arthur et les Minimoys (internationally released as Arthur and the Invisibles). [26] [30] These contributions marked occasional extensions of his performing career into animation.Personal Life
Family and Relationships
Dick Rivers was first married in 1965 to Micheline David-Boyer, with the ceremony taking place on his twentieth birthday at the town hall in Saint-Cloud. [5] Their son, Pascal Forneri, was born later that year. [5] [31] This marriage proved short-lived. [32] He subsequently entered a relationship with Monique, known as "Mouche", beginning around 1966 and lasting approximately 13 years. [33] [32] During this time, he adopted Natala, Monique's daughter from a prior relationship. [33] [32] [34] From the late 1970s, Dick Rivers shared a long-term companionship with Babette, who remained by his side until his death on April 24, 2019. [31] [32] His biological son Pascal Forneri died in 2021 at age 56 following a long illness. [35] [36]Radio Hosting and Other Activities
Dick Rivers engaged in radio hosting during the 1980s, leveraging his expertise in rock 'n' roll to share its history with audiences. From 1986 to 1989, he presented L’Âge d’or de la pop music on Radio Monte-Carlo (RMC), a program dedicated to chronicling the golden age of rock 'n' roll. [37] [38] The show built on his longstanding passion for the genre that shaped his own early career. [15] Beyond broadcasting, Rivers ventured into writing with the publication of his novel Complot à Memphis in 1988. [39] Co-authored with Brice Couturier, the thriller follows private detective Ray Gallant, a jazz and classic car enthusiast, as he investigates a string of fatal vehicle accidents involving legendary rock 'n' roll figures from the 1950s—including James Dean, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, Eddie Cochran, Elvis Presley, and Chuck Berry—suspecting deliberate sabotage tied to racism, corrupt police, and political intrigue in mid-century America. [39] This work represented a departure into fictional narrative. [37]Death and Legacy
Illness and Passing
Dick Rivers was diagnosed with cancer two months before his death. [13] The illness developed rapidly and remained private until the announcement of his passing. [40] He died on April 24, 2019, at the American Hospital in Neuilly-sur-Seine, on his 74th birthday. [41] [40] His manager, Denis Sabouret, confirmed that the cause was cancer. [40] His burial took place on May 2, 2019, at Montmartre Cemetery in division 11, where his grave is marked by a guitar-shaped stela and an American road-themed tombstone. [42]Influence on French Music
Dick Rivers is widely regarded as a pioneer and one of the most faithful interpreters of original rock 'n' roll in France, having played a key role in introducing the genre to French audiences during the early 1960s.[21][16] Alongside contemporaries Johnny Hallyday and Eddy Mitchell, he helped popularize rock 'n' roll across the country through his energetic performances and interpretations deeply influenced by American icons such as Elvis Presley, Gene Vincent, and Johnny Cash.[16][21] His stage name itself derived from the character Deke Rivers portrayed by Elvis Presley in the film Loving You, underscoring his lifelong admiration for the roots of the genre.[16] Over a career spanning from 1961 to 2018, Rivers demonstrated enduring commitment to rock 'n' roll, consistently incorporating covers and tributes to foundational artists while experimenting with related styles like country and rhythm & blues.[21] His prolific output and fervent, emotional live performances earned him recognition as a forerunner of French rock and roll, contributing significantly to the establishment and evolution of the genre in France.[21] This dedication extended to later collaborations with a new generation of French musicians, including Benjamin Biolay, Matthieu Chedid (-M-), and Mickey 3D on his 2006 self-titled album, illustrating his lasting influence on subsequent artists.[16] His contributions also included supporting emerging talents, such as Alain Bashung, further cementing his role in shaping the French music landscape.[43]References
- https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tombe_Dick_Rivers_Division_11_Cimeti%C3%A8re_Montmartre_-_Paris_XVIII_(FR75)_-_2024-09-14_-_1.jpg