Yves Simon – Autoportrait (1993)

As an artist, French singer-songwriter Yves Simon (born in Choiseul, France, 1944) lived two lives. On one hand, he was a writer, publishing almost one book a year since 1971 and eventually being rewarded (in 1988 and 1991). On the other hand, he was an almost as prolific recording artist, having released around twenty LPs since 1967, though his two first outings remained under the radar. He actually was spotted in 1972 with the release of an EP, Les Gauloises Bleues, earning him major opening act opportunities (George Brassens, Maxime LeForestier, Philippe Chatel). Though he has quit playing live from 1977 to 2007, he remained active, even if less prolific, after a set of successful releases displaying his classic but eclectic influences, ranking from Dylan to Brassens.