Christie Laume

Real name Chryssanti Lambroukas, French pop singer Christie Laume was born in Paris to Greek Orthodox parents on February 4, 1942. Sister of singer Théo Sarapo, who married Édith Piaf in 1962, she spent her teenage years in the couple's apartment on boulevard Lannes, and began performing as an opening act for the singer of "Milord". She chose a stage name and signed with the Barclay label, which released her first EP J'Ai Besoin de Toi (1966), still in the yé-yé tone of female vocalists. The next two EPs for the Odeon label (EMI), Pas de Nouvelles and La Musique et la Danse, released in 1967, were characterized by greater musical and textual audacity, in particular the tracks "Rouge-rouge", "Agatha ou Christie " and "L'Abominable homme des neiges", which would flourish on the many female singer compilations of the 1960s. The most original of these, "Rouge-rouge", is proving rare and sought-after by collectors. After the release of a previously unreleased Barclay EP, Ce Qu'il Fait Chaud (1968), Christie Laume married and left France for the United States, where she learned of the death of her brother on August 28, 1970. Since retiring from music, she has devoted herself to her family, her faith and the writing of three biographies: those of Édith Piaf, Théo Sarapo and herself.