Sacha Distel
Alexandre "Sacha" Distel (29 January 1933 – 22 July 2004) was a French singer, guitarist, songwriter and actor who had hits with a cover version of "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" in 1970, which reached No 10 in the UK Charts, "Scoubidou", and "The Good Life". He was made Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d'honneur in 1997. He had also scored a hit as a songwriter when Tony Bennett recorded Sacha's song for The Good Life in 1963. It peaked at #18 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart and Top 10 on the Easy Listening chart.
Distel was the son of Russian-French emigre Léonide Distel who was born in Odessa (Russian Empire) and French-Jewish pianist Andrée Ventura (1902–1965), born in Constantinople. His uncle was bandleader Ray Ventura. After Ventura settled in Paris with his orchestra Les Collégiens, Distel gave up piano and switched to guitar.
During his career, Distel worked with Kenny Clarke, Jimmy Gourley, Lionel Hampton, Slide Hampton, Bobby Jaspar, Barney Kessel, John Lewis, Pierre Michelot, Bernard Peiffer, Henri Renaud, Fats Sadi, Art Simmons, Martial Solal, René Urtreger, and Barney Wilen.
Distel was involved with actress Brigitte Bardot in 1958, having invited her to his birthday party in Saint-Tropez. The relationship ended in 1959. He married championship Olympic skier Francine Bréaud in 1963. Distel publicly stated that he remained faithful to his wife: "Anything I want in a woman I can get at home."
Distel died of cancer at the age of 71 on 22 July 2004 at his mother in law's home in Rayol-Canadel, near Saint-Tropez, France. In an interview a month after Distel's death, his widow Francine said she knew he had been unfaithful: "I knew it was going to happen and I knew it was going to pass."
Source: Article "Sacha Distel" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.
Known For | Acting |
---|---|
Most Rating | 8.635 |
Birthday | 1933-01-29 |
Place of Birth | Paris, France |
Also Known As | Sacha Distel et ses Collégiens, Sascha Distel, Sasha Distel, |
1962
We Will Go to Deauville
5.69/21
Comical adventures of two pairs of friends during their stay in Deauville, Normandy.
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We Will Go to Deauville
1971
Without Apparent Motive
5.8/45
A series of murders is committed in Nice on the French riviera. The commissaire Carella is in charge and tries to find a missing link between all thes...
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Without Apparent Motive
1968
Spécial Bardot
0/0
And the image created the myth... Bardot as a brunette, blonde or redhead. Bardot in thigh-high boots, mini-dress or swimsuit, Bardot in London, at La...
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Spécial Bardot
1963
Sing, aber spiel nicht mit mir
5.5/3
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Sing, aber spiel nicht mit mir
1964
How to Make a French Dish
4.6/7
In this romantic drama, a middle-aged gambler tells a casino croupier her life story. The story is told in flashback and chronicles the woman's romant...
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How to Make a French Dish
1970
The Crook
7/34
A thief known as Simon the Swiss faces up and downs in his criminal profession.
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The Crook
1960
Zazie dans le Métro
6.662/154
A brash and precocious ten-year-old comes to Paris for a whirlwind weekend with her rakish uncle.
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Zazie dans le Métro
1995
Drôle de Noël pour Jérémy
0/0
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Drôle de Noël pour Jérémy
1998
A Song for Eurotrash
0/0
A satirical look at Eurovision featuring cover versions of classic songs.
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A Song for Eurotrash
1960
The Delinquents
0/0
Jean-Pierre, who has escaped from prison, tries to reintegrate into society with the help of workers at a construction site.
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The Delinquents
2020
Numéro un - Demis Roussos
0/0
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Numéro un - Demis Roussos
2022
La TV des 70's : Quand Giscard était président
7.7/3
In May 1974, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing became President of the Republic and wanted to bring about a new era of modernity. One of his first decisions wa...
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La TV des 70's : Quand Giscard était président
2022
Sheila, toutes ces vies-là
7.5/4
The portrait of a woman who remembers. Sheila tells the story of Sheila, without concessions or evasions. Her childhood, her parents, her beginnings,...
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Sheila, toutes ces vies-là
2023
L'Âge d'or de la pub
7.5/4
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L'Âge d'or de la pub
2023
Elis & Tom: It Had to be You
7.875/8
Elis & Tom is considered one of the most important albums in the history of Brazilian music. Recorded in Los Angeles, in 1974, it was all captured by...
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Elis & Tom: It Had to be You
1953
Femmes de Paris
6.5/2
Professor Charles Buisson, astronomer and Nobel Prize winner, has just discovered a nova. He informs the other observatories by telephone. Just as he...
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Femmes de Paris
1965
The Real Bargain
1/1
The eccentric Comtesse de Saint-Plâs sells a black Citroën DS to car dealer Paul Souflé. He sells it to the young mathematics teacher Jacques Denzac w...
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