Biography
Alexandre "Sacha" Distel (29 January 1933 – 22 July 2004) was a French singer, guitarist, songwriter and actor who had hits with a cover version of "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" in 1970, which reached No 10 in the UK Charts, "Scoubidou", and "The Good Life". He was made Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d'honneur in 1997. He had also scored a hit as a songwriter when Tony Bennett recorded Sacha's song for The Good Life in 1963. It peaked at #18 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart and Top 10 on the Easy Listening chart.
Distel was the son of Russian-French emigre Léonide Distel who was born in Odessa (Russian Empire) and French-Jewish pianist Andrée Ventura (1902–1965), born in Constantinople. His uncle was bandleader Ray Ventura. After Ventura settled in Paris with his orchestra Les Collégiens, Distel gave up piano and switched to guitar.
During his career, Distel worked with Kenny Clarke, Jimmy Gourley, Lionel Hampton, Slide Hampton, Bobby Jaspar, Barney Kessel, John Lewis, Pierre Michelot, Bernard Peiffer, Henri Renaud, Fats Sadi, Art Simmons, Martial Solal, René Urtreger, and Barney Wilen.
Distel was involved with actress Brigitte Bardot in 1958, having invited her to his birthday party in Saint-Tropez. The relationship ended in 1959. He married championship Olympic skier Francine Bréaud in 1963. Distel publicly stated that he remained faithful to his wife: "Anything I want in a woman I can get at home."
Distel died of cancer at the age of 71 on 22 July 2004 at his mother in law's home in Rayol-Canadel, near Saint-Tropez, France. In an interview a month after Distel's death, his widow Francine said she knew he had been unfaithful: "I knew it was going to happen and I knew it was going to pass."
Source: Article "Sacha Distel" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.
Filmography
all 60
self 49
TV Shows 39
Movies 21
Elis & Tom: It Had to be You (2023)
L'Âge d'or de la pub (2023)
Sheila, toutes ces vies-là (2022)
Il était une fois Champs-Élysées (2022)
La TV des 70's : Quand Giscard était président (2022)
Numéro un - Demis Roussos (2020)
A Tribute To Burt Bacharach & Hal David (2001)
Star Academy (2001)
Chanter la vie (2001)
Vivement dimanche (1998)
Fantasy World Cup (1998)
A Song for Eurotrash (1998)
Drôle de Noël pour Jérémy (1995)
The Mrs Merton Show (1995)
Stars 90 (1990)
Le monde est à vous (1987)
Surprise, Surprise (1984)
La Chance aux chansons (1984)
Champs-Elysées (1982)
Three of a Kind (1981)
Russell Harty (1980)
Fan School (1977)
30 millions d'amis (1976)
Seaside Special (1975)
Numéro un (1975)
Système 2 (1975)
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche (1975)
Midi Première (1975)
Musik ist Trumpf (1975)
Hätten Sie heut’ Zeit für mich? (1972)
Midi trente (1972)
Le Grand Échiquier (1972)
Anneliese Rothenberger gibt sich die Ehre (1971)
Cadet Rousselle (1971)
Without Apparent Motive (1971)
Samedi soir (1971)
The Crook (1970)
TV Intim (1969)
Spécial Bardot (1968)
Starparade (1968)
Cilla (1968)
Meine Melodie (1965)
Dim Dam Dom (1965)
Die Drehscheibe (1964)
How to Make a French Dish (1964)
Sing, aber spiel nicht mit mir (1963)
We Will Go to Deauville (1962)
Lieben Sie Show ? (1962)
The Seven Deadly Sins (1962)
Pride (1962)
Musik aus Studio B (1961)
Treffpunkt Telebar (1961)
Samedi soir (1961)
Zazie dans le Métro (1960)
The Delinquents (1960)
Rêves de Neige (1960)
Discorama (1959)
Femmes de Paris (1953)
The Liberace Show (1952)
The Ed Sullivan Show (1948)
Ratings
Information
Known ForActing
GenderMale
Birthday1933-01-29
Deathday2004-07-22 (71 years old)
Birth NameAlexandre Sacha Distel
Birth Place13th arrondissement of Paris, France
RelativesRay Ventura
CitizenshipsFrance
Also Known AsSacha Distel et ses Collégiens, Sascha Distel, Sasha Distel
AwardsKnight of the Legion of Honour
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