Georges Guétary

Georges Guétary
Georges Guétary
Born	Lambros Vorloou February 8, 1915 Alexandria, Egypt
Died	September 13, 1997 (aged 82) Mougins (Alpes-Maritimes), France
Spouse(s)	Janine Guyon

Georges Guétary, born Lambros Vorloou (Greek: Λάμπρος Βορλόου Lambros Vorloou [ˈlambros vorˈlou]; February 8, 1915 – September 13, 1997) was a French singer, dancer, cabaret performer and film actor, best known for his role in the 1951 musical An American in Paris.

Guétary was born in Alexandria, Egypt to Greek parents. His father was a textile executive. He studied music in Egypt and in Paris, and made his stage debut in 1937. He performed as a singer and dancer with the famed chanteuse Mistinguett at the Casino de Paris.

The British newspaper The Independent said at the time of his death that "part of Guétary's exotic charm, and much of his stage persona as a 'Latin lover' with a voice of Creme Chantilly resided in his mischievous innocence combined with an erotic mystery inherent in his ancestry."

His first film appearance was in the musical Quand le cœur chante (1938). He also appeared many times at the Théâtre du Châtelet and in numerous other French motion picture and TV films.

He changed his name during World War II, to forestall scrutiny from officials who were deporting foreigners to concentration camps. Guétary became a French citizen in 1950.

After the war, Guétary appeared on stage in London and New York. He received critical praise for his performance in London opposite Lizbeth Webb in the 1947 operetta Bless the Bride, which ran for nearly a thousand performances.

January 5, 1949, Georges Guétary recorded the first version of the song Maître Pierre. This song composed by Henri Betti with the lyrics by Jacques Plante will be a great success sung by many singers and accordionists.

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