Cerrone
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Cerrone (born Jean-Marc Cerrone, 24 May 1952, Vitry-sur-Seine, near Paris, France) is a French disco drummer, singer-songwriter and record producer.
Early lifeAt the age of 12, he started playing drums and listening to Otis Redding's songs. Cerrone's passion for music scared his father, who tried to distract him from his obsession. By the end of the 1960s, he was fascinated by, among others, Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana and Blood, Sweat & Tears.
At the age of 17, he convinced Gilbert Trigano to hire rock bands for his holiday clubs: Club Med (Club Mediterranée). Cerrone became the A&R scout for 40 Club Med vacation villages around the world. His first recordings as a part of Kongas were released on Barclay Records, where he issued his first hit single, "Boom". He is most famous from the Kongas days for "Anikana-O", co-written and produced by Alec R. Costandinos. A remix was done by Tom Moultonfor the U.S. release on Salsoul Records. This mix was also used on other international releases.
CareerBased in Paris, Cerrone recorded, composed, and performed his solo debut "Love In C Minor", again with Costandinos. Released on his own Malligator imprint, and distributed by Warner Filipacci in France, it immediately shocked audiences with its controversial cover. It was later released with a new, tamer cover that took flashes of nude women into the background and replaced them with four arms clenched instead for the American release. It also featured a cover version of Los Bravos "Black is Black" and "Midnite Lady", an instrumental piece. Cotillion Records released the album through Warner distribution in the U.S. The album was released un-edited in Canada, using the original master tapes. This was the final collaboration between Cerrone and the Egyptian-born Costandinos, who went on to create dancefloor hits such as "I've Found Love" by Love & Kisses, and the disco opera re-telling of the story of "Romeo and Juliet".
Cerrone continued using pieces of photographic and audio erotica when he released his second album, Cerrone's Paradise. It was recorded with Raymond Donnez, also known as "Don Ray", as part of his arrangement entourage after parting company with Costandinos. The original French album cover featured a naked model draped over the top of a refrigerator with a jar of white powder spilled in front of it. The U.S. release featured a photo of Cerrone wearing a Hawaiian shirt.
His third album, Supernature sold over eight million albums worldwide. A departure from the lush orchestration with electronic instrumentation added to the mix, it was co-written by Lene Lovich and was arranged by Alain Wisniak. The song "Supernature" has a sci-fi theme: it's about the rebellion of mutant creatures — created by scientists to end starvation among mankind — against the humans. It also featured "Sweet Drums", a three-minute-and-ten-second drum breakdown. The original French album cover was again different, having a gatefold opening with nudes in the centre. The music itself was the same.
"Supernature" was used as the theme music to Thames TV's The Kenny Everett Video Show, which was shown across the UK.
After the success of Supernature, Cerrone IV: The Golden Touch was released to largely positive reviews and was another U.S. disco chart-topper. Driven by "Je Suis Music", "Look For Love", and the urban-slanted "Rocket In The Pocket", this album showed his fusion attributes, foreshadowing his future releases.
Cerrone then ventured into movie scoring, supplying the music score for Brigade Mondaine, a French film. Alternate mixes of his hits were made, such as "Give Me Love", "Phonic" (originally released as a 12" single on the Crocos label), and "Striptease". The latter was an underground hit, introduced to international audiences through the Disconet subscription service for DJs. It was a key inclusion on "Cerrone by Bob Sinclar".
Cerrone V marked a radical departure for the artist, where he made a full-fledged attempt to become the vocalist. Moving from Cotillion to Atlantic Records in the U.S., "Rock Me" was the first single and, although clubs reacted fairly well, it did not reach the heights of his previous releases. Sonically, it bears a resemblance to "Hot Stuff" by Donna Summer. Recorded in Los Angeles, California with the musicians backing Toto, Cerrone co-wrote "Call Me Tonight" with producer Bob Esty and vocalist/lyricist Michelle Aller.
His sixth album, Cerrone VI, was the first of his albums not to be released in the U.S. and was issued on Malligator and Unidisc in Canada. Unlike his previous albums, this non-rhythmic offering, using new electronic elements such as the Fairlight CMI computer, was more of Cerrone exploring the entire musical landscape. Lyricist Pamela Forrest, a Liverpool-born, Paris-based lyricist, added her magic to the album. The instrumental, Herb Alpert–inspired "Rendezvous" received scattered Adult Contemporary airplay in Canada. Cerrone also returned to the erotic album covers, using an existing Cheyco Leydemann photograph of a bare-breasted blonde in a lawnchair, and inserting himself in the photograph.
In a true return to form, "You Are The One" was the cornerstone of his seventh record. An 11-minute version of "Cherry Tree" remains on the shelf. This album was rumoured to have been recorded twice: first with Stoke-on-Trent, England, native Kay Garner, long the voice of Cerrone's biggest successes; and then with Brown. The version with Garner on the lead vocals has never been released.
As a bridge between Cerrone's seventh and eighth albums, a 12" single, "Tripping On The Moon", was released prior and was a blockbuster import hit. Sung by Kay Garner, and vocally reminiscent in tone of "Supernature", it was never released in North America as a single. It later became a part of Cerrone VIII:Back Track. It was released on John Luongo's Portrait label, distributed by CBS. Although the title track was a mild chart hit in the clubs, the album's lone bright spot was a re-recording of "Supernature" sung by Montreal-based Nanette Workman. Workman had a 1973 hit with the song "The Queen" on Big Tree Records. A short time thereafter, Canadian born singer Claudja Barry did a cover version of "Trippin'", released on Personal Records.
His ninth album, Your Love Survived, featured male lead vocals other than his own sung by the late Arthur Simms. Simms had also recorded a solo album with Alec R. Costandinos on his Ibis/Casablanca imprint. Pamela Forrest also rejoined the cast, writing lyrics on the album. Re-recordings of hits such as "Give Me Love", "Look For Love", and "Call Me Tonight" were also featured on this double LP set. Key tracks included "Get Your Lovin'" and "Workout".
Another return to form was his tenth album, Where Are You Now?. Sung by American Carole Rowley and released on Malligator in France, Hi-NRG producer and mixer Ian Levine was tabbed to do the mix, prompting a 12" release on the Record Shack label. In 1984, "Club Underworld" was also released as a single, in both France and the United States on Personal Records, with a new mix.
Perhaps the most-interesting Cerrone record that was never to be on a full-length album was his terrific interpretation of "Standing In The Shadows Of Love" intertwined with his own composition "Freak Connection". It was released only in France.
Cerrone's boutique label, Crocos, was the home to a number of independently produced projects. "Africanism" by Kongas, arranged by Don Ray, was an energetic fusion of tribal drum beats and emotive male vocals framed around a cover version of "Gimme Some Lovin'" by Traffic. It was licensed for North American distribution in a deal between Cerrone and Polydor U.S.
Don Ray created a furore with his dance-pop album Garden Of Love, which was written with Cerrone, the entire album is considered a seminal classic. Hits such as "Got To Have Lovin'", "Body & Soul", and "Standing In The Rain" guided the album to #1 Stateside. Rob King, late of Manfred Mann's Earth Band, was the vocalist on the album. The previously mentioned Lene Lovich wrote the lyrics.
Revelacion, a studio act, released two albums: a side-long version of "House Of The Rising Sun" on Crocos (which was also released at almost the same time as Santa Esmeralda's second album) and "Don't Give A Damn", a 16-minute electronic-spiced, downtempo track recalling "Music of Life" on Malligator.
He also produced singles "Tonight The Night" for percussionist Mo Cooper and "Phonic" by Phonic, the latter of which echoes the synth boom that was started by Space's "Magic Fly". A song featuring LaToya Jackson was also issued, entitled "Oops, Oh No".
In 1992 Cerrone's show Dreamtime ran on Broadway at The Ed Sullivan Theater.
By the 2000s, Cerrone's European success helped his 2002 hit "Hysteria", and the album become a success. By 2007, he issued the song "Laisser Toucher". It is the lead single from his album Celebrate!, released in early 2008. The second single from the album was "Misunderstanding." Cerrone issued his twentieth album release, Love Ritual on 7 July 2008. The lead single is the title track which preceded the full length album. "Love Ritual" also has a supporting music video. It was quickly followed by the next two singles, "It Had To Be You" and "Tattoo Woman." The single, "Tattoo Woman" with remixes by Jamie Lewis was made available domestically in the U.S. on traxsource.com.
On March 12, 2009 Cerrone released the album "Cerrone by Jamie Lewis" for free on his website. He stated that "music is condemned to be free and that it is necessary to find other solutions to make revenues"
Cerrone also won 5 Grammy Awards, some Golden Globes, awards from Billboard Disco Forum events, and gold and platinum discs.
DiscographyAlbumsCerrone with KongasCerrone with Kongas - (1974) Kongas (LP)
Cerrone with Kongas - (1977) Africanism (LP)
Cerrone with Kongas - (1978) Anikana-O (LP)
KongasProfile:Formed in France in the early 1970s, the Kongas boasted several members that would change the face of disco music, among them Don Ray and Cerrone.
Kongas are notable for launching the career of French disco producer extraordinaire Jean-Marc Cerrone, who served as a percussionist in their early years. Playing a fusion of guitar-oriented, progressive-minded rock and polyrhythmic, Fela Kuti-style Afro-funk, Kongas took up residency at the Papagayo club in the French Riviera town of St. Tropez in the early '70s. French producer Eddie Barclay signed the group to his Barclay label, where they scored a minor hit single with "Boom," and toured Europe, Japan, and Africa. They released a debut album, Afro Rock, in 1974; however, musical differences led to Cerrone's departure for a highly successful solo career as a disco performer and producer, leaving writer/producer Alec Costandinos as Kongas' guiding influence. Cerrone returned in 1977 to produce the group's second album, Africanism, which featured a side-long medley of the title track and the Spencer Davis Group's "Gimme Some Lovin'." 1978 brought the release of a 12" single on the New York-based disco label Salsoul, which featured "Anikana-O" and "Kongas Fun," their two best-known and most-compiled tracks.
Cerrone with Don RayCerrone with Don Ray - (1978) The Garden Of Love (LP)
Don Ray - Real Name: Raymond Donnez
Profile: Don Ray was a musician with Alec Costandinos and his name appears on many of Alec's albums. His solo album, "Garden of Love", was produced by Cerrone (of "Love in C Minor" fame), and contains the hit disco track "Got to Have Loving". Also listen out for jazz-funk classic "Standing in the Rain" and the slower "My Desire". The disco stomper "Midnight Madness" is only available on UK 12".
Cerrone with RevelacionRevelacion – (1977) The House Of The Rising Sun
Revelacion – (1979) Don't Give A Damn
Profile: One of Cerrone's many side-projects of the late 70s, the idea of Revelación came when Cerrone's musical partner Raymond Donnez (aka Don Ray) parted from Santa Esmeralda because of disagreements of royalties from their multi-million selling 1977 hit "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" for which Donnez had written the musical arrangements. As a revenge, Donnez and Cerrone rushed into the studio and recorded what had already been planned as the next Santa Esmeralda rework, a 16-min. flamenco-disco-rock cover of "The House of the Rising Sun", in November 1977. Credited to Revelación, it was released in January 1978, just before Santa Esmeralda's version came out. Neither of the versions could match the success of Santa Esmeralda's debut. A later 1979 album Don't Give A Damn - the title track was taken from Cerrone's soundtrack album Brigade Mondaine - La secte de Marrakesh - sank without a trace.
Cerrone - (1976) Love in C Minor (Cerrone I)
Cerrone - (1977) Cerrone's Paradise (Cerrone II)
Cerrone - (1977) Supernature (Cerrone III)
Cerrone - (1978) Brigade Moundaine
Cerrone - (1978) Cerrone IV: The Golden Touch
Cerrone - (1979) Angelina (Cerrone V)
Cerrone - (1980) Portrait Of A Modern Man (Cerrone VI)
Cerrone - (1980) You Are The One (Cerrone VII)
Cerrone - (1982) Back Track (Cerrone VIII)
Cerrone - (1982) Your Love Survived (Cerrone IX)
Cerrone - (1983) Where Are You Now (Cerrone X)
Cerrone - (1985) The Collector (Cerrone XI)
Cerrone - (1989) Way In (Cerrone XII)
Cerrone - (1990) Dancing Machine (Cerrone XIII)
Cerrone - (1992) Dream (Cerrone XIV)
Cerrone - (1993) X-Xex (Cerrone XV)
Cerrone - (1994) Human Nature (Cerrone XVI)
Cerrone - (1995) Best of Remixes
Cerrone - (2001) Cerrone by Bob Sinclair (Cerrone XVII)
Cerrone - (2002) Hysteria (Cerrone XVIII)
Cerrone - (2004) Culture: The best of (Cerrone XIX)
Cerrone - (2006) Orange Mécanique - The Score (Cerrone XX)
Cerrone - (2007) Celebrate! (Cerrone XXI)
Cerrone - (2008) Love Ritual (Cerrone XXII)
Cerrone - (2009) Cerrone by Jamie Lewis (Cerrone XXIII)
Special releasesCerrone - (1978) Live: Paris
Cerrone - (1983) Live: Paris
Cerrone - (2006) Orange Mecanique (The Score)
Movie Soundtracks:Cerrone - (1979) Vice Squad - Brigade Moundaine
Cerrone - (1979) La secte de Marakech
Cerrone - (1980) Voudou aux Caraïbes
Cerrone - (1990) Dancin' Machine
Cerrone – (2001) Remix 2001 Cerrone by Bob Sinclar
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