Fox Theater

Born in Agen in 1953, Francis Cabrel was raised in Astaffort (Lot-et-Garonne)/Southwestern France as evidenced by his notorious melodious accent. A place where he still lives today and which figures prominently in his life and career. A major French singer-songwriter, he is the author of a musical work that is both popular and yet sophisticated, a singular and authentic repertoire composed of numerous hits and universal songs. His sensitive and poetic style illustrates his concerns as a man and citizen, as well as his attachment to his Occitan culture. With more than 25 million records sold worldwide, he has become a reference.

Francis Cabrel discovered the guitar and began composing songs at an early age, inspired by American folk artists like Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen and James Taylor. As a teenager, he interrupted his schooling and started to focus on local stage performances. His local band Les Gaulois quickly got noticed at regional balls and he acquired more and more confidence with the guitar.

In 1974 his song “Petite Marie” inspired by his wife allowed him to win a radio talent contest and opened the doors to the CBS record company that released his first album Les Murs de Poussière in 1977. Cabrel moved to Paris where he was offered opening acts. In 1979 his second album Les Chemins de Traverse including the hit “Je l’aime à mourir” was a resounding success. The year 1980 saw the release of the album Fragile and the triumph of “La Dame de Haute-Savoie” and “L’encre de tes yeux”. Then in 1981 Carte Postale.

He successfully independently produced his following albums Quelqu’un de l’intérieur, Photos de voyage and a live album Cabrel Public. In 1985 he composed his famous single “Il faudra leur dire” for an association fighting against leukemia, later adapted by Ray Charles. Then a father, he returned with his family in his hometown and his albums began to space out. In 1989 his independently produced album Sarbacane was his first notable success, particularly thanks to the titles “Sarbacane” and “C’est écrit”.

His 8th album Samedi soir sur la Terre released in 1994 sold more than 3 million copies, his greatest success and one of the best-selling in France, including the now classics titles “La corrida”, “La cabane du pêcheur”, “Je t’aimais, je t’aime, je t’aimerai”, “Octobre”. He got involved in charitable musical projects like Restos du Cœur, and that same year founded the Rencontres d’Astaffort, musical workshops supporting young talents and more broadly promoting French songwriting. They still host two promotions a year.

The albums followed one another on a regular basis Hors-saison 1999, Les beaux-dégâts 2004, Des roses et des orties 2008, In Extremis 2015. Each album and the following tour receiving the enthusiasm of a loyal and transgenerational audience, in France and elsewhere.

Translated into many languages, his greatest hits have toured the world, like the Spanish version “La quiero a morir”. Having several times included in his past albums French adaptations of beloved American songwriters, in 2012 he published Vise le ciel, an entire album of adapted Bob Dylan songs.

Francis Cabrel’s 14th studio album À l’aube revenant released on October 16, 2020 is a tribute to the troubadours he considers himself the heir of. He consecutively started a Trobador Tour during which he recorded a 31 tracks live album released on December 3, 2021.

Francis Cabrel is a fundamental French artist, combining commercial success, humility and artistic demand, he has remained true to his musical and personal convictions. This authentic artist and his repertoire captivate French and French-speaking audiences around the world.