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Jean-Michel Jarre Biography

(Composer)

Birthday: August 24, 1948 (Virgo)

Born In: Lyon, France

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Jean-Michel André Jarre is a popular French composer, performer, and record producer. Regarded as a pioneer in the electronic, synth-pop, ambient, as well as New Age genres, he is considered one of the world's most successful entertainers of all time. Born in Lyon, France, Jarre received training in piano from a very early age. He was also exposed to different art forms, including street performance, as a young boy. He started small and reached the peak of his career after the release of 'Oxygène' which was his third studio album. The album was hugely successful, reaching the first position at the French Albums chart. It also stood at No. 2 on the UK Albums and at No. 78 on the US Billboard 200. The album sold around 12 million copies and it eventually became the best selling French album of all time.
Jarre has received numerous awards and honors for his contribution to music, such as the Platinum Europe Award and the MOJO Lifetime Achievement Award. He has also made entry into the Guinness Book of World Records for having the highest number of live spectators at an outdoor event. He broke his own record three times! He was awarded the 'Legion of Honor' by the French government.

Birthday: August 24, 1948 (Virgo)

Born In: Lyon, France

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Composers #153
Record Producers #112
Musicians #558
Composers #153
Record Producers #112
Musicians #558
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Quick Facts

French Celebrities Born In August

Also Known As: Jean-Michel André Jarre

Age: 76 Years, 76 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Anne Parillaud (m. 2005–2010), Charlotte Rampling (m. 1978–2002), Flore Guillard (m. 1975–1977)

father: Maurice Jarre

mother: France Pejot

siblings: Kevin Jarre, Stephanie Jarre

children: David Jarre, Emily Jarre

Composers Record Producers

Height: 5'11" (180 cm), 5'11" Males

City: Lyon, France

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You wanted to know

  • 1

    What is Jean-Michel Jarre's most famous album?

    Jean-Michel Jarre's most famous album is "Oxygène," released in 1976.

  • 2

    What inspired Jean-Michel Jarre to create electronic music?

    Jean-Michel Jarre was inspired by the works of composers like Pierre Schaeffer and Pierre Henry, as well as the electronic music pioneers of the 1960s.

  • 3

    How did Jean-Michel Jarre pioneer the use of laser shows in concerts?

    Jean-Michel Jarre pioneered the use of laser shows in concerts by incorporating laser technology into his performances, creating visually stunning and immersive experiences for his audiences.

  • 4

    What is the significance of Jean-Michel Jarre's outdoor concerts?

    Jean-Michel Jarre's outdoor concerts, such as the ones held at iconic landmarks like the Pyramids of Giza and the Eiffel Tower, are significant for blending music with grand visuals and creating unique, large-scale experiences for fans.

  • 5

    How has Jean-Michel Jarre influenced the electronic music genre?

    Jean-Michel Jarre has influenced the electronic music genre by pushing boundaries, experimenting with new sounds and technologies, and inspiring generations of electronic music producers and artists.

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Childhood & Early Life
Jean-Michel André Jarre was born in Lyon, France on 24th August, 1948 to France Pejot and Maurice Jarre. His mother was a member of the French resistance and a concentration camp survivor, while his father was a popular composer. His father soon left for America, leaving his family behind, and Jarre was raised by his mother and grandparents.
He was inspired to pursue a career in music after watching street performers perform. With his mother’s help, he began taking music classes. He was also a skilled painter, and as a young boy, he made money by selling his paintings.
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Career
After setting up a small studio, Jean-Michel André Jarre released his debut single ‘La Cage’, in 1971. The following year, he released his debut studio album ‘Deserted Palace’. However, it failed to earn popularity and didn’t make much of an impact in his career. His second album ‘Les Granges Brûlées’ which was released in 1973, didn’t fare well either.
As his first two albums didn’t do well, Jarre continued to struggle. His third album ‘Oxygène’ (1976) however, became a huge hit, and made him popular on an international level. It peaked at No. 1 in the French Albums Chart. It also entered the Top 10 in charts in several countries such as Austria, Germany, Sweden and the UK. It managed to enter the US Billboard 200 as well, where it stood at 78th position. It received mixed reviews from critics.
Two years later, he released ‘Équinoxe’, his fourth studio album. It also did well, though it wasn’t as much of a success as his previous album. Over the next few years, the sales of his third and fourth album continued to grow worldwide.
In 1979, he entered the Guinness Book of World Records for having the largest number of spectators ever at an open-air concert. The concert, which was held at Place de la Concorde in Paris, drew more than a million people.
In 1981, Jean-Michel André Jarre was invited to China to perform at the Les Concerts en Chine. He was apparently the first Westerner to have received this invitation. His performance was much loved by the people.
Throughout the ensuing years, he continued to release studio albums, such as ‘Musique pour Supermarché’, (1983) ‘Rendez-Vous’ (1986) and ‘En attendant Cousteau’ (1990).
In 1986, his live performance ‘Rendez-vous Houston’ was attended by nearly 1.5 million people. Thus, he entered the Guinness Book of World Records again by breaking his previous record. He broke the record once again in 1990, when his concert Paris La Defense was attended by 2.5 million.
He entered the Guinness Book of Records again in 1997, after breaking his own record for the third time, after his concert in Moscow was attended by 3.5 million.
In 1997, he released ‘Oxygène 7–13’ or ‘Oxygène 2’, which was the sequel to his third studio album ‘Oxygène’. Over the following years, he released several more albums such as ‘Metamorphoses’ (2000), ‘Geometry of Love (2003), and ‘Teo &Tea’ (2007).
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His latest albums were ‘Electronica 2: The Heart of Noise’ and ‘Oxygène 3,’ both of which were released in 2016.
Major Works
'Oxygène’ was the first successful studio album in Jean-Michel André Jarre’s career. The album, which contained six tracks, was first released in December 1976. It peaked at the first position on the French Albums chart, as well as charted in several other European countries. It also helped Jarre earn popularity on an international level.
‘Rendez-Vous’, was Jarre’s eighth studio album. Released in April 1986, the album peaked at No. 9 in the UK Charts, as well as at No. 52 in the US Charts. It earned a nomination for a ‘Grammy Award for Best New Age Album’. The album has sold around three million copies worldwide.
One of his latest studio albums is ‘Oxygène 3’. The album was released on 2nd December 2016, which was the 40th anniversary of the release of the original Oxygène album. The album did well, though it was hardly as successful as the original Oxygène album. It stood at No. 51 on the French Albums, and at No. 41 at the UK Albums. It also entered the charts in several other countries.
Awards & Achievements
Jean-Michel Jarre has received numerous awards in his career for his contribution to music. Some of them are the ‘Midem Award’ (1978), ‘IFPI's Platinum Europe Award’ (1998),’ Eska Music Awards Special Award’ (2007), ‘MOJO Lifetime Achievement Award’ (2010), ‘International Cavalchina Award’ (2011) and ‘SPA Medal of Honour’ (2017).
He was awarded Officier de la Légion d'Honneur from the French Government in 2011.
He first entered the Guinness Book of World Records for the biggest concert in 1979.
He later broke his own record three times.
An asteroid 4422 Jarre has been named in his honor.
Facts About Jean-Michel Jarre

Jean-Michel Jarre holds the Guinness World Record for the largest outdoor concert ever, with an estimated audience of 3.5 million people in Moscow in 1997.

He is known for incorporating cutting-edge technology into his music performances, including the innovative use of laser lights and 3D projections.

Jarre comes from a family of musicians, with his father being the renowned film composer Maurice Jarre.

He has collaborated with a diverse range of artists, from electronic music pioneers like Tangerine Dream to pop icons like David Bowie.

Jarre is a strong advocate for environmental issues and has used his music to raise awareness about climate change and other global challenges.

See the events in life of Jean-Michel Jarre in Chronological Order

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