Jean-Philippe Smet, his real name, was born on June 15, 1943, in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. The only child of Léon Smet and Huguette Clerc, he was a young man when his parents separated. His mother, who was a model, entrusted him to his paternal aunt, who took care of her own daughters Desta and Menen. His childhood was marked by numerous travels across Europe with dancers, cousins, and other relatives involved in shows. Desta married an American dancer named Lee Halliday, who became a father figure to the young boy and nicknamed him Johnny. As a child from an artistic family, he began taking acting lessons, as well as playing the violin and later the guitar. In 1956, he went on stage for the very first time, performing in front of Desta and Lee Halliday in Copenhagen.
In Paris, the teenager found his path at 14 when he was introduced to a new musical trend, embodied by Elvis Presley. The record label Vogue in 1960 and released the single T'aimer Follement under the pseudonym Johnny Hallyday. It didn’t take long for him to provoke hysteria during his stage performances, which became his trademark. With thealbum Salut Les Copains, the singer became the most recognizable artist of the yéyé period. In 1963, his song L'idole des j'aigres was a huge hit. Then, he stopped his career to do his military service in Germany. He returned to the stage with a brand new artistic collaboration with Long Chris and the release of his second album Johnny Chante Hallyday. The singer performed at a frenetic pace and had problems with the tax authorities. In September 1966, the singer attempted suicide. This incident would inspire the song Noir C'est Noir which was a huge success.
In the 1970s, Johnny Hallyday wants to diversify and changed his style. He began collaborating with Philippe Labro, who wrote more socially conscious lyrics and also worked on two albums Life and Obvious offense. Then, the singer embarked on a new adventure with the Johnny Circus, a big top show with musicians and jugglers, but it was not very successful financially. Johnny then released a country album entitled Country Folk Rock. In 1973, Johnny sings a duet with Sylvie Vartan, I ' have a problem which is a huge summer hit. In 1975, he releases "Rock in Memphis " then flees to the United States with his family for a short period. But he returns to the top of the charts in 1976. At the end of the 70s, his concerts and albums follow one another, but the singer does not regain the massive success of his first albums.
In the 80s, he is introduced to Michel Berger, who writes the album Rock'n'Roll Attitude (Something decided to release Tennesse, Abandoned Singer) which is a huge success. Then Jean-Jacques Goldman composes the album Gang in which we find L'envie (Desire) I Promise You or Laura all of which are hits and help create a whole new image for the performer. Goldman multiplies his collaborations, participates in the Restos du cœur, and produces increasingly dazzling shows. At the end of the 80s, the musical Dans la chaleur de Bercy receives the Victoire de la Musique award for the best musical show.
In the 90s During the 90s, he celebrates his birthday during a live show on June 15, 1993, at the Parc des Princes. Many artists turn to him and want to work with him, like Pascal Obispo, who produces the album What I Am with the hit Light The fire. In 1999, he experiences massive commercial success thanks to the album Blood for Sing composed by David Hallyday. In 2005, he releases his last album under his Universal label, My truth which ends more than forty years of collaboration. That same year, he joins the Warner record company and releases his album under the brand new label The heart of a human. In May, Johnny Hallyday starts a new tour called Tour 66.
The tour is interrupted in July 2009 due to his hospitalization, which requires him to undergo surgery. In September, he resumes his tour, but is admitted to the hospital again in November 2009 due to a herniated disc. In December 2009, in Los Angeles, he was admitted to Cedars-Sinai due to complications, and remains in a coma for a few days. The singer manages to recover after a long period of recuperation, which encourages him to slow down the pace of his shows.
In September 2010, he announced that he was changing producers and would now be working in collaboration with Gilbert Coullier. For his return to the box office, the artist worked with Matthieu Chedid (Never alone in 2011) or Christophe Miossec (The wait in 2013). In 2013, he released his autobiography, In my eyes alongside author Amanda Ethers. In 2014, he renewed ties with Eddy Mitchell and Jacques Dutronc for the concert The Old Scoundrels. He continued touring and released two albums: Rester vivant (2014) and De l'amour (2015), Stay Alive (2014) as well as Of Love (2015) notably composed by Yodelice. In January 2016, the group hits the road again for a new tour called Stay Alive Tour which starts in Montpellier. The live album will be released in October 2016.
Similarly, Johnny Hallyday starred in many films: Adventure is an adventure story (1972), Detective (1985), The Man on the Train (2003), Vengeance (2009), Bastard, people love me (2014), or Everyone is live (2017). In 2011, he appeared for the first time in theater in a play written by Tennessee Williams, Heaven on Earth with Audrey Dana.
In March 2017, the singer announced on social media platforms that he was suffering from cancer. In June 2017, he took part in the Vieilles Canailles tour alongside Eddy Mitchell and Jacques Dutronc.
Private life: In April 1965, Johnny married another figure of the yéyé era, Sylvie Vartan, in Loconville. He was lucky to have a son, David, born on August 14, 1966. After a few years of marriage and living together, Johnny Hallyday and Sylvie Vartan separated in 1980. The singer then met actress Nathalie Baye, with whom he shared a daughter, Laura, born in November 1983. However, the couple separated in 1986. Johnny Hallyday married actress Adeline Blondiau twice (1990 and 1994) before falling in love with Laeticia Boudou, who was thirty years younger than him. They married on March 25, 1996 and adopted two Vietnamese-born daughters, Jade (born August 3, 2004) and Joy (born July 27, 2008).
On December 5, 2017, Johnny Hallyday passed away at the age of 74. at his home in Marnes-la-Coquette. On December 9, 2017, a funeral was held at La Madeleine in Paris. The following day, on the 11th, the singer was buried at Lorient cemetery on the island of Saint-Barthélemy. The posthumous album, My country is Love,was released on October 19, 2018.
