Lucienne Delyle

Born in Paris, she received a pharmacist's education. She performed as an amateur singer until 1939 when Jacques Canetti, the artistic director of Radio Cité, heard her and immediately engaged her. In 1940, she married the jazzman Aimé Barelli (1917–1995), who guided her career for the rest of her life. They had a daughter, Minouche Barelli (1947–2004). She had an immense success with the song "Mon amant de Saint-Jean" (My Lover From Saint-Jean) in 1942, and became the most popular female singer in France. She achieved her greatest popularity during the 1950s. In 1953, Bruno Coquatrix invited her and Gilbert Bécaud to headline the gala opening concert at the Paris Olympia. Toward the end of the 1950s she suffered from leukemia and her career declined rapidly. In 1960 she gave a final series of concerts on the stage of the Bobino music hall. She died in Monte Carlo in 1962.