Jacques Romain Georges Brel ( in French) (April 8, 1929 – October 9, 1978) was a Belgian French-speaking singer-songwriter. The quality and style of his lyrics are highly regarded by many leading critics of popular music. Brel's songs are not especially well known in the English-speaking world except in translation and through the interpretations of other singers, most famously Scott Walker. Others who have sung his work in English include Marc Almond, David Bowie, Dusty Springfield, The Dresden Dolls, Terry Jacks, Nina Simone, and Beirut. In French-speaking countries, Brel is also remembered as an actor and director. Biography Brel was born in Schaarbeek, Belgium, a district of Brussels, but lived most of his life in Paris. He died in Bobigny in the suburbs of Paris, of lung cancer, and is buried in the Marquesas Islands. Although the Brels spoke French, they were of Flemish descent, with some of the family originat

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z # TAGS