Jean Sablon

An internationally known French singer Jean Sablon was a throwback to the days of music hall and vaudeville. Despite being openly gay he was a housewife's pin-up and especially famous for songs such as "Aimer je t'aime", "Sur le Pont d'Avignon" and "Les Arbres de Paris". He topped bills in London and on Broadway and throughout the 1960s and 70s made several television specials in Britain. Born in Nogent-sur-Marne near Paris he was the son of a popular songwriter. He began his career in musical comedy but shot to fame when he was spotted by the legendary performer Mistinguett who chose him as her partner at the Casino de Paris. He moved to the USA in 1933 where he became a hit on many radio shows. George Gershwin and Cole Porter wrote songs for him and he appeared in the Broadway musical Streets of Paris with screen comics Abbott and Costello and the singing star Carmen Miranda. His biggest song success was "Vous qui passez sans me voir" written for him by Charles Trenet. He helped to popularize swing music in France by teaming up on several occasions with Stéphane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt. He gave one of many farewell concerts at the age of 75 at the Lincoln Center in New York and another two years later in Rio de Janerio.