Le Taulier would have been 80 years old. On June 15, 1943, a certain Jean-Philippe Smet was born in Paris. Born to a French mother, Huguette Clerc and a Belgian father, the artist Léon Smet, the latter abandoned his partner and their son before recognizing him several months after his birth.
During a difficult youth, young Jean-Philippe was raised by his aunt – his father’s sister – who would also be his maternal figure. It is with her that he will live a few years of his life in Belgium before flying to the United States to break into music. He will then become Johnny Hallyday under the leadership of his mentor Lee Halliday and sponsored by Line Renaud.
With his voice and his inimitable style over the years, Johnny Hallyday has become an icon for millions of fans in France and around the world. Even having lookalikes who imitate him in his gestures, his look or his voice like Jean-Baptiste Guégan. However, the idol of young people did not understand this craze around his person. “Johnny was always a little uncomfortable with the fact that people wanted to look like him. It confused him, he didn’t understand”, explained the author and journalist Amélie Schildt for Planet.
In her biography Johnny, la Belgique dans le sang, published by Éditions Harper Collins, the author tells us, however, that “the kindness of the man is such that each imitator who crossed his path was entitled to a friendly word, a little phrase of encouragement. Never denigration”. A rock’n’roll icon for some, a Belgian at heart for others, but above all a heartbreaker for those whose hearts he made capsize.
Among the women in the life of Johnny Hallyday, we remember his media romance with Sylvie Vartan, the mother of their son David. His story with actress Nathalie Baye and mother of their daughter Laura. Or his relationship with Babeth, Adeline Blondieau or Linda Hardy. Finally, Laeticia Hallyday will remain by his side, with their daughters Jade and Joy, until the end of his life in December 2017 in Marnes-la-Coquette. Focus in pictures on 10 little-known photos filled with nostalgia in our slideshow.