Q: Hello Marianne! It is said that the daughter of Michel Delorme was the little girl who says "Donna La Folle par T.Rex" on the TANX LP ... was it you?
A: Hello Pierre, Absolutely! A great moment in my life ...
Q: Wow ... come on, can we get to know each other, better? Here’s a pic of the recordings; Do you know the little girl, with a tambourine, behind Mickey Finn?
R: Of course! It's me ! with my red and white favorite T-shirt!
Q: Tell me about your father, Michel Delorme?
A: My father was born on January 4rth, 1934, in Paris. He was a true Parisian, from La Butte Montmartre. He started as an English teacher... my mother was also a teacher ... He was passionate about Jazz from the early age of 15... As well as teaching English he worked as a freelance journalist and Jazz critic... At first he wrote for such magazines as "Jazz Hot" and "Jazz Magazine". Later he worked as a freelance for “Nice Matin”, he was reporting of concerts, writing record critics, he attended all the Jazz festivals... Also, he wrote many LPs back sleeves texts. After he retired he was totally devoted to Jazz music and was writing for “le Jazzographe”.
After his teacher job, he started working for Pathé Marconi, later for United Artists, and finally for CBS. There he quickly became Artistic Director for the International division.
Michel DELORME
His job was finding who in England or in the USA could achieve success in France... for instance he contributed to the starting French careers of "Chicago", "Carlos Santana". He made much for introducing Anglo Saxon music in France. Later, he got interested in Brazilian music ... He liked every kind of music, except for Opera music... He loved classical music, not so much MOZART, but DEBUSSY, Erik SATIE... He was passionate about music and he had the perfect ear (a gift that he passed on to me), but he never was a musician.
Since I was 4-5 years old he used to bring me everywhere with him, I attended a lot of rock concerts... Among the big names, I think I saw almost everyone. Imagine: I attended the 1964 Beatles concert at the Olympia! Too young to have any recollection of this, of course! The best concert in my whole life was Bob MARLEY in TOULON, I was 15 years old ... My father passed on to me his passion for music. At 4-5 years I already was able to recognize the Stones on the radio, and others.
He did his whole career at CBS ... He went a lot to the USA, for example, he took Yvette HORNER to NASHVILLE! (Lol)
He did not like the French variety music, except for a few exceptions, for example he was very close to Claude NOUGARO. Our favorite artists, to my father, and to me, are the Clash.
In 1978/1979 we left Paris and we settled in Antibes, to please my mother, pied noir (French settlers in Algeria, who had to settle back in France, in the sixties, following the Algerian war), who wanted to live in the South.
My father then took over the CBS Regional Branch for the whole South of France. He promoted CBS artists, national or international, all over the south of France.
Then CBS was sold to SONY Music. They quickly wanted to cut on big salaries. He was invited to take his pre-retirement, at 57 and 1/2.
From that time, he devoted himself to Jazz only. In the last years of his life, he lived, with my mother, in Nabeul, Tunisia. He died in June 2017 at the Fontonne Hospital here in Antibes.
After his passing, I gathered all his archives ... There are indeed 50 boxes of archives, safely, at a furniture guard. There is certainly his signed copy of TANX among them... It is my project to sort all that, because nothing is really sorted. I have to find this signed LP!
Q: How did you come to be present at the Château d'Hérouville?
A: When I was a kid, my father took me everywhere with him, along with my mother, and so he took me to Hérouville ... I was there at least twice: for TANX and also for Elton JOHN, probably for Honky Chateau (Elton John has recorded 3 LPs in Hérouville: Honky Chateau; Do not shoot me, I'm only the piano player; and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road)
Michel, my father, had established a very good and professional relationship with Marc, we had travelled previously to meet him in London, I don’t remember exactly... was it for a concert, I’m not sure? We had also met David Essex, quite a few times, he was like my uncle, he used to sign his records for me as "Uncle David" ...
It's a little blurry in my memories, of course: I was 8, nearly 9, I was born on November 16th, 1963 ...
What I remember of the recording of "Mad Donna" is that there was a great atmosphere, everyone was cheerful, it was very happy, very easy; everyone was in a good mood!
I still see the room very well, Marc, in a good mood, kind, very smiling, like an uncle ... He offered me a barrette with a star in rhinestones; I kept it for years, unfortunately I finally lost it. When you look at the picture you showed me, you can see something shining in my hair, this is the barrette! Marc was very androgynous; my dad always told me that Marc loved women; Anyway, everyone is entitled to love who he fancies.
Marianne and Mickey Finn, Hérouville 1972
The atmosphere was laid back... People came in, people went out... When we were tired of being confined in, we just could walk in the park, it was very beautiful ... today there is no intruder in the studios, certainly no child. Marc was super nice, not obnoxious, no big ego...
On the moment I did not realize what was happening. I had no idea of Marc’s fame... I was used meeting musicians, at home, in Colombes. There were constantly at home, mainly on week ends and late at night. The neighbours did not appreciate too much (laugh)... I was used meeting stars. For instance we cruised down Les Champs Elysee with the Jackson Five! To me, Marc was a friend of my father and that was all.
My father and Marc talked together. Then my father calls me and says "come, we'll record you; you have to say Donna La Folle par T.Rex"... I move to the microphone ... I think there was only one take? Marc said "so cute!"
I had no idea what for was this recording ... When my father received his pressing of TANX he made me listen to my voice! I was amazed!
Q: and since that time, what has been your life?
A: So we moved to Antibes in 78/79. That's where I went to High School.
After finishing my Bachelor's Degree I spent holidays in Saint Martin (West Indies) and met my first husband, an Englishman. I lived there for 4 years in Saint Martin. We got married in 1985.
My honeymoon, for my first wedding, we spent in Rio de Janeiro. I love this country too much! We were walking in Rio ... we took the bus ... someone started a rhythm with his finger on the window ... little by little, all the bus started hand clapping, taping, singing and dancing like in a flashmob, too great! It's one of the countries I love, with France, of course, for the beauty of its landscapes; Japan, for its ancient tradition, the Greek Islands, Hawaii - I'm a fan of Hawaiian dance - Tahiti ...
We divorced in 1986.
After returning from Saint Martin, I asked my father to introduce myself to his business friends at the Midem 1987. He introduced me to a mogul: Charles Koppelman.
With Martin Bandier and Stephen Swid, they founded SBK Entertainment and bought the musical editions of CBS. They recruited me; I went back to Paris for my new job, first for SBK and then for EMI publishing: I signed contracts, I was responsible for finding foreign groups with potential in France, even in Europe.
Russel Mael, Marianne, Ron Mael, Michel Delorme, late 90's
This is a period of my life ... that was quite disorderly; every night outside, every night concerts, parties ... Either in Paris, London... I used to take care of the artists, when they were in France, for the shooting of video clips, or photo sessions ... For instance I was with Tina Turner and Peter Lindbergh, in Deauville, for the photo session for her album “Foreign Affair”. It's crazy, I was photographed by Peter Lindbergh!
My big moment was when I received Lenny Kravitz's demos! Like my father I have the flair for guessing who will meet success, who will not; beyond talent, it needs, of course, talent, but that's not enough ... some will be successful, some not, generally I knew who... I absolutely wanted SBK to sign KRAVITZ; That was for the world, except for the USA and Canada where he was already under contract ... It seemed obvious to me that he had to be signed, even if he asked for a lot of money ...
They refused... I had the feeling that he would maybe not succeed immediately, maybe he would first need writing for others - he wrote for Madonna and Sean Lennon, I was right - but that sooner or later he would be recognized ....
From rage and frustration I gave my resignation ; and I went to the United States, 1 year in New York, 7 years in Los Angeles, from 93 to 2000 ... I set up my management company, which did totally fail... I brought a French duet with me, all went wrong for them... to make things worse, I lived the 1994 earthquake, in Los Angeles ... a total horror!
After my management company, I worked for French companies in Los Angeles, in tourism.
In September 2000 I left for Bora Bora. I met my daughter's father, a Tahitian. My daughter was born on January 3rd, 2005 (On Paris time it was already the 4rth... as my dad's birthday). In 2007, I had a health concern, I went back home to Antibes, my daughter was 2 ½ years old. I worked 8 years in Sofia Antipolis for American Express Global Business Travel.
Q: You never searched on the internet, for this “Donna La Folle” moment of your life?
A: It's in a corner of my memory... from time to time I think about it... that's one of the greatest moments in life, I can't forget !.