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!! many THANKS to Laurence (a big fan of... François Valery) for this translation !!
By the real name of
Harutyune (Aroutioun) Henri MARKARIAN,
this son of Armenian immigrants with Lebanese nationality (Kevork Markarian, his
father and Vartanouche, his mother), Marc Aryan was born in France, in Valence
in the Drome department on
14th November 1935.
(1935:
year of birth given by Marc Aryan in his official biography in order to update
his image from the start of his career in Belgium. But in fact he was born
in 1926, date made public by his widow when the cross on Marc’s grave was
renovated: "1926-1985").
He is the third child of a family of 7, in which the two eldest died young. He has 3 sisters and one brother. In the Markarian family, were born in chronological order : Henri, the oldest; then Zizi (or Zig, whose real first name was Alice), followed by Dominique (whose real name was Paulette), Jeannine and finally Jacques, the youngest son.
Nothing seemed to destine him to music. At the age of 4, fascinated by war and uniforms, like most children, he had decided to become a …. general.
Teenager Marc is noticed in Emile-Loubet secondary school for his uncommunicative and independent character. He carefully attends the courses he is interested in - including literature and foreign languages – but he does not hesitate to « forget » some physics and maths tests that bore him, preferring a lonely and romantic walk along the Rhine. That’s at that time he starts writing pieces of poetry and …. songs.
But his teachers do not appreciate his conception of studies and he is dismissed twice from the grammar and then secondary schools where he is enrolled. With such references, it is difficult to find a school which accepts him and his parents, from modest background, can’t send him at boarding school in another town or in an independent school. Never mind that, Marc decides to have correspondence courses, works round the clock, studies a three-year programme in a single year and …. sits for GCE (A-levels). But recklessness is not always rewarded and Marc fails his GCE (A-levels)
His father, gathering together all his savings has just bought a small crafts mill where he makes oriental specialities. Could it pave the way for this son who is allergic to studies ? Marc accepts reluctantly to assist his father (we are in 1953), stating that one day he will leave for Paris to do literature or music.
Marc Aryan is 18 years old. A few months later, a terrible illness seems to break his race. The Faculty of Medicine gives up hope for him. He is sent to the mountains and, for two years, he will fight for his life.
Tough but prolific period. The young man sensitivity is stimulated ; he reads a lot, begins to think seriously about music.
Then, one morning, he is back home. His health is still weak, but his will is solid and clear. Marc Aryan starts working ; he learns the piano, musical notation, harmony, on his own. And during more than three years, he works from 10-12, sometimes 16 hours a day. One day, he surprises a friend of his in fugue class by playing him the complete « Appassionata » sonata by Beethoven.
His parents, in front of such courage, let him go on.
Then, he sets up a record shop, in order to familiarize himself with taped song. His sisters Dominique, Jeannine and Zig help. In a short time, this shop becomes the biggest one on the spot. Why ?
"That’s because the shop assistants knew exactly what they were selling » he explains. I can say my sisters and I had heard all the records on the shelves at least once.
On one fine morning of 1957, Marc decides to sell this booming shop and tells his father that he goes to Paris to have his music and songs published.
The indifferent Parisians record producers take him out politely … The singers do not want to sing his songs.
Marc Aryan does not lose heart. He thinks … If nobody wants to sing his songs, he will sing them himself !
He manages to have a taping first trial, with his real name HENRI MARKARIAN and later HenrY Markarian. It’s a failure.
And time flies … and Marc in his small suburban bedroom goes on believing and working.
And one need more to discourage the stubborn Marc Aryan : he decides then to lead the operations himself.
[ français ] [ nederlands ]
More than ever confident in his star, he does what all consider to be a foolish thing : he creates his own record company, MARKAL and his own publishing-house, MALATYA.
And it’s in these dark hours that his doggedness bears fruit. Marc decides to make a record at his own expenses –with the money he has still left from the sale of his record shop. He calls some musicians under the baton of Christian Chevallier, tapes 4 titles and leaves the studio with his tape but … he still does not know exactly what he can do with it.
The start is very close, but
Marc Aryan does not know it yet. One of his sisters, Zig, known as Zizi has just
got married to an Belgian and the two of them have created a night-club on the
coast : The
Barqu’à Jac in Zeebrugge.
(Much
later, there will be too a Barqu’à Jac in the town of Pecq in the Hainaut.)
Marc Aryan has 3 000 copies of his first record pressed with the note on the jacket « with the Europa boys and the aryanes", did he draw his inspiration from Ray Charles and his Raylettes??- and leaves for Belgium with the idea of testing his single on the dancers. The watershed has come. The record is played on the pick-up, the couples are dancing … they seem to like it … Some young girls come and ask for the record references…
We are in August 63 and the EP’s flagship song is « Ballade ». In a few days, other clubs ask for the record. The coast record dealers have many requests and, shortly after, Marc Aryan, strikes a distribution deal with the MARKAL label with an outstanding firm in Brussels : GRAMOPHONE PLC (EMI BELGIUM).
Marc Aryan settles in Belgium in Waterloo (later, once the success is confirmed, he will buy a superb villa in Ohain in the same area).
We are at the end of 1963. From now on, hits will follow one another and regularly, slowly, Marc’s popularity will keep on growing. « Ballade », « Si j’étais le fils d’un roi », « Giorgina », pave his road to success.
In April 1964 Marc strikes an agreement with Mr Jeff Deboeck, an art director.
He starts a collaboration with an Antwerp band "The Chabroll's".
His first public concert takes place in Jumet-Hamendes (Belgium) on 22nd August 1965.
Between the song and record release, Aryan with his 1m 56 and his 65 kg personally interceded in order to write the lyrics, music, arrange, manage the band in studio and sing it with the mike, without mentioning the sound and mixings.
All this would not be anything without the success, but Marc Aryan in a few songs has already found an international audience. As a matter of fact, his records are sold in about fifteen countries and some of his songs are at the top of the charts.
During his triumphal tour in Russia, in 1968, Marc Aryan sings to capacity in 60 000 seat stadia.
Marc will also have two triumphal tours in Turkey in 1966 and 1969.
Behind his big tortoise shell-rimmed glasses, Marc Aryan conceals tender eyes, poet eyes. And this strong poetic nature, admirably added to an exceptional knowledge for a singer, can only be a token of the continuation of his success, conquered thanks to tenacity and work.
Marc Aryan, like some artists is dreaming to have his own studio. Success will enable him to afford it.
In 1969, he purchases his first multi-track tape-recorder and turns the ex stables of his property (*) into a recording studio he names « Katy » after the name of his big international hit.
(*) : located 7 chemin du moulin
in Ohain in Belgium ; his house still exists : after his death, the Katy Studio
was bought and moved (in 1987) and Marc’s house was sold.
Over the years, Katy studio will improve to a 48-tracks studio famous throughout the world, not only for the exceptional quality of its acoustic sound (the walls are covered with noble wood from South America) but also for the high technology of its equipment.
It’s from 1973 onwards that Katy Studio will work full time. The list of famous singers who come to tape there is too long to be fully quoted. Let’s mention a few names anyway such as Julio Iglesias, Salvatore Adamo, Frédéric François, Will Tura, Michel Fugain, Danyel Gérard, Patrick Hernandez who taped there « Born to Be Alive » (single which was sold at more than 17 millions copies), but also the world-famous guitar-player La Goya, Toots Thielemans, Dick Rivers and Anthony Quinn who taped there his big hit « I Love You ».
Moreover, Anthony Quinn taped one of Marc’s songs « My forgotten Years » (" Il y a des jours "), released as a single engraved under a label belonging to Marc : Markal.
In 1981, Marvin Gaye leaves the United States to tape his «Midnight Love» album at the Katy Studio, a record that will be crowned with two Grammy Awards. So, his famous "Sexual Healings" was taped in the Katy Studio.
Some other famous names taped at the Katy studio : Diana Ross and James Brown!
The studio work is so time-consuming that it takes all Marc’s time. Yet, Marc Aryan
goes on composing and publishing many songs with an uneven success.
In 1973, he turns up again thanks to the support of independent local radio stations and he releases the single « La Lettre » which immediately becomes a big hit.
In addition to his numerous occupations, Marc goes on the stage again. He will go on performing in galas until the end of his life.
In 1979 Marc Aryan meets the love of his life, Miss Marianne Bouriez. They got married on 9th June 1984.
Six months before his death, he goes to the United States to do several concerts (in Los Angeles).
On 30th November 1985 his sudden death will put an end to an action- packed life.
Marc Aryan was buried on 4th December 1985 at the Ohain graveyard, where he still rests today.
!! many THANKS to Laurence (a big fan of... François Valery) for this translation !!
Marc ARYAN le site de Marc ARYAN d'un fan de Marc ARYAN pour la passion de Marc ARYAN