Claude François

Claude Antoine Marie François (1 February 1939 – 11 March 1978), most simply known as Claude François (and usually nicknamed Cloclo) was a French pop singer, songwriter and dancer. He notably wrote and composed Comme d'habitude, the original version of "My Way" and Parce que je t'aime mon enfant, the original version of "My Boy." Some of his most famous songs are Le lundi au soleil, Magnolias for ever and Alexandrie Alexandra.

Claude François sold some 70 million records during his career (and after his death) and was about to embark for the U.S. when he accidentally electrocuted himself in 1978 at age 39. His place in the entertainment world was roughly analogous to Cliff Richard in Great Britain, with a dash of Tom Jones. Live, Claude François was also seen as James Brown with a soul bypass. Former French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing is quoted as saying Claude François was, to him, the equivalent of The Beatles.