Pierre Roche

Pierre Roche

Born: March 27, 1919
Died: January 29, 2001
in Beauvais, Oise, France
Pierre Roche (27 March 1919 – 29 January 2001) was a pianist, singer and composer, better known for his duo with Charles Aznavour (1943–1950). Roche and Aznavour met at a music hall and debuted on stage with their own songs in 1944. Edith Piaf noticed them and hired them for a tour in France with the Compagnons de la chanson. Charles Aznavour then decided to pursue a solo career in order to expand his repertoire, while his pianist settled in Quebec. In the 1970s, Aznavour invited Pierre Roche to join him on Olympia's stage to perform together.

Born in Beauvais, in the north of France, Pierre Roche resided in Paris in 1942 when he met a young singer by the name of Varenagh Aznavourian. In 1947, Georges Ulmer won a Grand Prix with one of their songs, "J'ai bu". The duo recorded few 78 rpm discs which had some local success. Then they joined Edith Piaf in her tour. After a cold reception in New York they went to Montreal where they succeeded at the end of 1948 and decided to extend their stay in Canada. In May 1949, Charles Trenet recommended them to Gérard Thibault, the owner of fashionable cabaret Chez Gérard. Roche met young singer Jocelyne Deslongchamps, who would later be known as "Aglaé". She became his wife, and the duo Roche and Aznavour split up. After more than a decade of international tours, the couple settled permanently in Quebec in 1963.

Roche died of cancer in January 2001.

Source: Article "Pierre Roche (musician)" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Movies for Pierre Roche...

Aznavour by Charles
Title: Aznavour by Charles
Character: Self - Musician (archive footage)
Released: October 2, 2019
Type: Movie
In 1948, French singer Charles Aznavour (1924-2018) receives a Paillard Bolex, his first camera. Until 1982, he will shoot hours of footage, his filmed diary. Wherever he goes, he carries his camera with him. He films his life and lives as he films: places, moments, friends, loves, misfortunes.
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Title: Samedi soir
Character: Self
Released: January 9, 1971
Type: TV
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Title: À bout portant
Character: Self
Released: December 16, 1968
Type: TV
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Il Était... Trois Chansons
Title: Il Était... Trois Chansons
Character: Self
Released: January 1, 1947
Type: Movie
Director Claude André Lalande illustrates the theme of three songs in images. We see and hear in turn Roland Gerbeau "Himalaya", Jacqueline François "From Montmartre to the Latin Quarter" and Jean Marco "The Ghost of Aunt Anna". This mini musical is one of the ancestors of music videos.
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Goodbye Darling
Title: Goodbye Darling
Released: April 26, 1946
Type: Movie
Chérie is a beautiful young woman who works as an escort girl. She meets a young and wealthy man who propose her to be his fictional wife so that his mother won't bother him anymore with this other girl, a rich one, she wants to see her son married to.