Calogero

by Jason Ankeny A fixture of the French pop scene for more than two decades, Calogero enjoyed success as a member of the trio Les Charts and as a composer-for-hire before finally mounting a solo career in 2000. Born Calogero Maurici in Grenoble on July 30, 1971, as a child he studied the flute, later mastering guitar, piano, and bass as well. With other brother Giaocchino and childhood friend Francis Maggiulli, he co-founded Les Charts in 1986. A chance encounter with French pop legend France Gall proved instrumental in landing the fledgling trio an audition for producer Philippe Gaillard, who quickly agreed to helm their debut single, "Je M'envole." With his long, curly hair, sensitive lyrics, and boyish vocals, Calogero -- affectionately dubbed "Charlie" by fans -- soon emerged as a teen heartthrob, and with 1991's "Notre Monde à Nous" Les Charts became certified chart superstars. The trio nevertheless split in 1997, and Calogero spent the remainder of the decade writing material for other artists including Florent Pagny, Ismaël Lô, Hélène Ségara, and Patrick Fiori. In addition, he contributed songs to the stage musical Les Dix Commandements. He finally returned to performing via tours in support of Pascal Obispo and Zazie, and in 2000 issued his debut solo LP, Au Milieu des Autres. With 2002's Pierre Jaconelli-produced eponymous follow-up, Calogero returned to chart glory, reeling off a series of hits like "Aussi Libre Que Moi," "Prendre Racine," and "Tien an Men." With 2003's 3, he notched another round of hits including "Face à la Mer," "Yalla," and "Si Seulement Je Pouvais Lui Manquer," additionally earning a Victoire de la Musique award as Best Male Artist. An extensive French tour yielded 2005's Live 1.0. After an extended hiatus, Calogero returned with a new studio LP, Pomme C, in 2007.