Charlélie Couture (born Bertrand Charles Elie Couture, 26 February 1956) is a French and American musician and multi-disciplinary artist, who has recorded over 25 albums and 17 film soundtracks, and has held a number of exhibitions of paintings and photographs. He has also worked as a poster designer, and has published about 15 books of reflections, drawings and photographs.
Life and career
He was born in Nancy, and graduated from l'École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts. He released his first album, 12 Chansons dans la Sciure ("12 Songs in the Sawdust") in 1978, followed by Le Pêcheur ("The Fisherman") in 1979 and Pochette surprise ("Lucky Dip") in 1981. He was then signed by Chris Blackwell to Island Records, becoming the first French artist on the label. He recorded the album Poèmes Rock in New York, and also contributed a track to the album A Christmas Record issued by ZE Records, an affiliate of the Island label. He had a hit single in France with the track Comme un Avion Sans Aile.
Also in 1981, he founded, in Nancy, the Local à Louer group of photographers, painters, poets, and stated in his "Art Rock manifesto" that "Art must make the junction between the functionalism of industrial society and the aspirations of pop culture". He also launched an art journal, Le Télégramme. In 1983, he wrote his first complete film soundtrack, for the movie Tchao Pantin ("So Long, Stooge"), for which he was nominated for a César Award. He held his first exhibition of drawings and watercolours in Paris in 1985, and continued to record and tour. In 1990–91 he visited Australia, recording two albums there, Melbourne Aussie and Victoria Spirit.
Later in the 1990s, his recordings were less successful and he concentrated more on photography, drawings and paintings. In 1997 he recorded a blues-influenced album, Casque Nu ("Naked Helmet"), in Chicago. In 1998, he was awarded the title of Officier du Mérite National. He worked extensively preparing posters and publicity for tennis tournaments, including the posters for the 2002 Davis Cup Final between France and Russia. In 2004, he settled for several years in New York, from where he released two albums, Double Vue (2004) and New Yor-Cœur (2006).
In April 2020 he announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19.
Discography
Studio albums
1978: 12 chansons dans la sciure
1979: Le Pêcheur
1981: Pochette surprise
1981: Poèmes rock
1982: Quoi faire? 1983: Crocodile Point 1985: Art & Scalp 1987: Solo Boys 1988: Solo Girls 1990: Melbourne Aussie 1991: Victoria Spirit 1994: Les Naïves 1997: Casque nu 1999: Soudé soudés 2001: 109 (Poèmes électro) 2004: Double vue 2006: New YorCœur 2011: Fort rêveur 2014: I m M o r t e l 2016: Lafayette 2019: Même pas sommeil 2020: Trésors cachés et perles rares 2022: Quelques essentielles Collaborative albums 1995: Dawn Town Project (with Mike Rimbaud)
Live albums
1989: 3 Folies Live (recorded at Folies Bergères during Solo Boys and Girls tour) 1993: Souvenirs Live (recorded during 1991/1992 tour)
Soundtracks
1983: Tchao Pantin
1989: La Salle de bain
Compilation albums
1990: Sides of Me
1991: Island Colors
1996: Patchworks
Summary of Artistic Creations
www.theregallery-nyc.com
www.meetcharlelie.com
Education and conferences
1973 – Lives home and goes on the road for one year
1974 – Graduates " Art Baccalauréat " from outside the higt school system. 1979 – Graduates with honors from the Beaux-Arts DNSEP Jury for many conventions and festivals among them American film Deauville) 2000 – Conference to the Commission Europeenne about Art and Culture 2004 – Conference " Conversations Essentielles " " " Faith %26 Culture " Paris 2007 – Beaubourg Art Pocket Film, 2006, Québec Festival 1998 etc... 2008 – Conference " Conventions Essentielles " Music and Creation, Paris 2011 – Conference " The Multism ", New York and Lecture " Discourse about The Multism ". La Sorbonne / Paris