F.R. David
| F. R. David | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Elli Robert Fitoussi David |
| Born |
1 January 1947 Menzel Bourguiba, Tunisia |
| Origin | France |
| Genres | Europop, synthpop, pop rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, musician |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, bass, piano, keyboards, drums |
| Years active | 1967–present |
| Labels | Carrere, CBS |
| Website | www |
Elli Robert Fitoussi "F. R." David (born 1 January 1947, Menzel Bourguiba, Tunisia) is a Tunisian-born Jewish French singer, best known for his 1982 hit single "Words (Don't Come Easy)".
F. R. David began his career as Robert Fitoussi, a [[Tunisian born] singer-songwriter and guitarist with French garage band Les Trèfles. After one E.P., they mutated into Les Boots, but achieved very little commercial success. Adopting his new stage name, he went solo in 1967 and recorded some orchestral pop psych with Michel Colombier, including a version of The Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever" (Il Est Plus Facile). He enjoyed minor hits with the Éric Charden penned "Symphonie" and a cover of The Bee Gees' "Sir Geoffrey Saved the World", but this success did not last.
During the early 1970s, he formed the progressive rock group David Explosion but their one album was not a success. He worked with Vangelis for a while, appearing as vocalist on some of his early 1970s albums, and then joined French rock band Les Variations, appearing on their final album Café De Paris (1975), which featured an early rock-disco crossover "Superman, Superman". When the band broke up, he went solo again. His personal "trademarks" are his sunglasses and his guitar (a white ).
His most recognised song was his hit "Words" in 1982, which sold eight million records worldwide, topped various charts around Europe in late 1982, and reached No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart in spring 1983, whitewashing a rival version by 1960s hitmakers The Tremeloes, and going on to becoming the 22nd best-selling single in the UK during 1983. The song is a catchy, slightly plaintive synth-led mid-tempo ballad sung in a slender, high-pitched voice. F. R. David's voice is also heard on the 1974 45rpm single "Who" by Vangelis under the name 'Odyssey'.
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