(24 October 1927 – 18 December 2001) was a French singer, composer and actor, known as Monsieur 100,000 Volts for his energetic performances. His best-known hits are probably Nathalie and Et maintenant, a 1961 release that became an English language hit after being translated into “What Now My Love?”.

Born in Toulon, France, Bécaud learned to play the piano at a young age, and then went to the Conservatoire de Nice. In 1942, he left school to join the French Resistance during World War II. He began songwriting in 1948, after meeting Maurice Vidalin, who inspired him to write his early compositions. He began writing for Marie Bizet; Bizet, Bécaud and Vidalin became an extremely successful trio, and their partnership lasted until 1950.

While touring with Jacques Pills as a pianist, Bécaud met Édith Piaf, the wife of Jacques Pills at the time. He began singing at her suggestion in 1953, with Mes mains and Les croix. His first performance came the year after, and by 1955 he had earned his reputation as the most electrifying performer on the French scene. His hits in the later part of the decade included La corrida (1956), Le jour où la pluie viendra (1957) and C’est merveilleux l’amour (1958).

His first hit in the English-speaking world was Jane Morgan’s version of Le jour où la pluie viendra (as The Days The Rains Came, with English lyrics by Carl Sigman) in 1958. He began acting in the same period, starting with 1956’s Le Pays D’où Je Viens. In 1960, he won a Grand Prix du Disque and composed L’enfant à l’étoile, a Christmas cantata. That same year, Let It Be Me, an English version of Je t’appartiens, became a hit for the Everly Brothers, followed, over the years, by Bob Dylan, Nina Simone, Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, Jerry Butler and James Brown.

In 1961, Bécaud wrote and recorded Et maintenant, one of the biggest singles in French history. Translated as What Now My Love?, the song became a hit by Shirley Bassey, Sonny & Cher, Elvis Presley, Judy Garland, Andy Williams and Frank Sinatra. After writing the opera L’opéra d’Aran, Bécaud toured Europe and continued recording a string of pop hits, including the controversial Tu le regretteras. He also co-wrote Love On The Rocks with Neil Diamond, which was featured on the soundtrack of The Jazz Singer and was an international hit.

His song Seul sur son etoile became It Must Be Him (with English lyrics by Mack David), a huge hit in 1967 for U.S. singer, Vikki Carr, and the following year another Bécaud song, L’Important c’est la rose was given an English lyric (by Norman Newell) and became a hit for UK singer, Vince Hill under the title Importance of Your Love.

Focusing more on touring than recording into the 1970s, Bécaud did some acting work and finally took time off in 1973, citing exhaustion. In 1974, he was named Chevalier in the Légion d’honneur.The following year he scored his one and only entry on the UK charts with “A Little Love And Understanding” which reached number 10 in the Spring. Later in the century, he began writing with Pierre Grosz and then Neil Diamond, also writing the Broadway musical Roza with Julian More.

In 1982, he recorded the duet L’amour est mort with Québécoise singer Martine St. Clair at the start of her career.

The 1990s saw a drastic slowdown of Bécaud’s activity, releasing various compilations and touring occasionally. In 2001 he died, aged 74, on his houseboat on the Seine and was interred in the Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris.

Gilbert Becaud’s rich song catalogue is published by BMG Music Publishing.

Gilbert Becaud’s song L’Orange was also the featured track in one of the trailer of the movie “Leon” (AKA the professional) by Luc Besson.