Bruno Coquatrix

Bruno Coquatrix (5 August 1910 – 1 April 1979) was mainly known as the owner and manager of the music hall Paris Olympia. He was instrumental in recognizing and exposing the talent of up-and-coming performers and brought international stars to Parisian audiences.

Coquatrix was born in Ronchin, Nord.

Bruno Coquatrix firstly made himself known as songs and music writer. He wrote over 300 songs, e.g. Mon ange (1940) ; Clopin-clopant (1947); Cheveux dans le vent (1949)), as well as some operettas.

He was the impresario of some French singers, e.g. Jacques Pills and Lucienne Boyer. He managed the variety theatre Bobino before he took over the Olympia, Europe’s biggest music hall in 1954. He then staged all the era’s celebrities, e.g. Georges Brassens, Jacques Brel, Gilbert Bécaud, Johnny Hallyday, Violetta Villas, Dalida, Édith Piaf, Annie Cordy, Mireille Mathieu, Yves Montand, and so many others. He also co-founded a records company, the Disques Versailles.

An astute and successful businessman, he was very influential within the French musical world. He was also the mayor of Cabourg (Calvados) from 1971 until his death in Paris eight years later.

He was the best man of Henri Betti in 1949 and André Hornez in 1963 who were the authors of C'est si bon.

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