Herbert Léonard: The voice of a crooner who passes away at 80

Herbert Léonard, an iconic figure of French chanson in the 1980s, passed away on Sunday, March 2, at the age of 80, following a battle with lung cancer. His wife, Cléo Léonard, announced his death, which occurred at 6 p.m. at the Fontainebleau hospital in Seine-et-Marne. “He had been struggling with the illness for some time,” she told AFP.

Born Hubert Lœnhard in Strasbourg on February 25, 1945, he discovered his passion for music in his adolescence, influenced by the voices of Otis Redding and Chuck Berry. As the guitarist for the band Lionceaux, he was spotted by Lee Hallyday, who gave him his stage name and guided him toward performing rhythm and blues covers in French. However, his career was thrown off track after a serious car accident in 1969, which kept him away from the stage for over a year.

A spectacular comeback thanks to “Pour le plaisir”

It was in 1981 that his fate took another turn: lyricist Vline Buggy proposed he record “Pour le plaisir,” a song composed by Julien Lepers. The success was immediate. Over 2.5 million copies sold, a meteoric rise, and the image of a crooner with undeniable charisma. His hits followed one after another: “Amoureux fou,” “Quand tu m’aimes,” “Sur des musiques érotiques,” and even “Puissance et gloire,” the theme song of the TV series Châteauvallon.

With his long neck, oversized shoulders, and iconic cigarette, Herbert Léonard became an icon of an era where love was sung with passion. “I like lyrics that aren’t complicated poetry,” he said, embracing lyrics that were sometimes sensual and a style without compromise.

A career marked by resilience

His journey, however, was far from smooth sailing. In 1973, he put music on hold and became a journalist specializing in aviation. He published several books on Soviet fighter planes, another of his great passions. But the stage eventually caught up with him: in 1999, he portrayed Frollo in the musical Notre-Dame de Paris, replacing Daniel Lavoie after six months of auditions.

In the 2000s, he joined the “Âge tendre et têtes de bois” tours, reconnecting with his loyal audience. In 2014, he returned to his roots with the album “Demi-tour,” a return to the rhythm and blues that had shaped his beginnings.

Unwavering love and poignant farewells

Herbert Léonard shared his life with Cléo, whom he met in 1967 and married in 2004, after 37 years together. They had a daughter, Elea. Despite the challenges, including a pulmonary embolism in 2017, he continued to speak openly about his journey. “If it were your last album, what would you do? Rhythm and blues!” he would say, aware of the approaching twilight.

On Sunday evening, his voice fell silent, but his musical legacy will resonate for a long time. “By singing love with passion, he marked an entire generation,” praised the Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati. Herbert Léonard leaves behind timeless melodies and the image of an artist who never stopped following his heart.

Goodbye, artist, and thank you for the pleasure.