Henri Salvador

Henri Salvador (born July 18, 1917, Cayenne, French Guiana, died February 13, 2008, Paris) was a French singer. His father, Clovis, and his mother, Antonine Paterne, daughter of an native Indian from the Caribbean, were both from Guadeloupe.

Salvador recorded several songs written with Boris Vian with Quincy Jones as arranger.

In the 60's Salvador was the television host of a several popular TV variety shows on French TV.

Henri Salvador and his song "Dans mon île" (1957) is one of the inspiration source of Tom Jobim at the birth of Bossa Nova.

Caetano Veloso, a famous brasilian composer and singer, did Henri Salvador a very known person in Brazil. Veloso's song "Reconvexo" says "quem não sentiu o swing de Heri Salvador ?" (who didt'n feel the swing of Henri Salvador ?)

In (1964) Henri Salvador scored a popular French hit with "Zorro est arrivé" (which was inspired by the English song "Along Came Jones"). His song "Mais non, mais non" (1969) inspired Jim Henson' song Mahna Mahna. These kind of comedic songs made him well known in France. He is also famous for his good nature and rich, catchy laugh, which is a subject in many of his humoristic songs.

He has a brother, André, and a sister Alice. He became a musician and comedian. Later he discovered singers Keren Ann and Art Mengo.