Franck Pourcel et son Orchestre
French violinist Franck Pourcel is best-known for his jazzy string arrangements of pop hits, as well as his lush easy listening arrangements and film scores. Initially, Pourcel studied classical violin at the Paris Conservatoire, but he found the allure of jazz irresistible. In particular, he was an idol of Stephane Grappelli. Following his studies, he joined a number of jazz combos, which led him to his role as the leader of the French Fiddlers, whom he joined in the late '40s. The French Fiddlers were a group of violinists that performed jazzy versions of classical numbers or classical arrangements of pop and jazz tunes. They signed to Pathe-Marconi and continued to refine their sound so they could reach a broader audience. The group earned their first hit in 1952 with a version of "Blue Tango."
In 1959, the French Fiddlers '"Only You" that featured a prominent beat; appropriately, it was credited to Franck Pourcel & His Rockin' Strings. It was a sound that became quite popular during the '60s, though frequently other musicians were more successful with it than Pourcel. Indeed, "Only You" was his only U.S. Top Ten hit. Nevertheless, he and the Fiddlers -- who recorded under a variety of names -- sold over 15 million records internationally by the early '70s. Pourcel continued to record easy listening albums and compose film scores throughout the '70s and into the '80s.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
Similar artists
-
L'étranger au paradis (Mono version)
Franck Pourcel et son Orchestre
French Music - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1956
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Arriverderci Roma / Chiens perdus sans collier (Mono Version)
Franck Pourcel et son Orchestre
French Music - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1956
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Les lavandières du Portugal (Mono version)
Franck Pourcel et son Orchestre
French Music - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1955
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Java pavane (Mono Version)
Franck Pourcel et son Orchestre
Pop - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1958
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Gelsomina (Mono Version)
Franck Pourcel et son Orchestre
French Music - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1955
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
La marche des gosses / Eso es el amor (Mono Version)
Franck Pourcel et son Orchestre
French Music - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1959
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Ce serait dommage / Un peu... Si peu (Mono Version)
Franck Pourcel et son Orchestre
French Music - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1959
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Malagueña (Mono Version)
Franck Pourcel et son Orchestre
Pop - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1958
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Croquemitoufle (Mono Version)
Franck Pourcel et son Orchestre
French Music - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1958
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mon cœur est un violon (Mono Version)
Franck Pourcel et son Orchestre
French Music - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1954
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Les canons de Navarone (Mono version)
Franck Pourcel et son Orchestre
French Music - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1961
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Franck joue pour les amoureux, no. 2 (Mono Version)
Franck Pourcel et son Orchestre
French Music - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1961
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Rêves de jeunesse / Tu n'as pas très bon caractère (Mono Version)
Franck Pourcel et son Orchestre
French Music - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1958
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
J'ai trop aimé / Johny guitare (Mono version)
Franck Pourcel et son Orchestre
French Music - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1955
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Come prima / Guitares et tambourins (Mono Version)
Franck Pourcel et son Orchestre
French Music - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1958
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Non, je ne regrette rien (Mono Version)
Franck Pourcel et son Orchestre
French Music - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1961
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Les enfants oubliés / Que toi (Mono Version)
Franck Pourcel et son Orchestre
French Music - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1955
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
La Terre (Mono Version)
Franck Pourcel et son Orchestre
French Music - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1961
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Chanson de Ben-Hur (Mono Version)
Franck Pourcel et son Orchestre
French Music - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1961
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Et maintenant (Mono Version)
Franck Pourcel et son Orchestre
French Music - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1962
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mon amour (Mono Version)
Franck Pourcel et son Orchestre
French Music - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1962
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo