Ferre Grignard


Ferre Grignard was a Belgian skiffle-singer from Antwerp who surprised the world in 1965 with his international hits "Ring Ring, I've Got To Sing" and "My Crucified Jesus".

Biography

Ferre Grignard renounced his middle-class origins and at the end of the 1950s he went to the Antwerp art academy. He was unsuccessful as a painter, but he could play the guitar and sing the blues and his performances in "De Muze", a famous Antwerp jazz café, made him well known in the Antwerp artists' world.
The young generation accepted him as the first Belgian protest singer, because of his hippie-like appearance and the content of his songs. In 1965 he performed at the first "Jazz-festival" at Bilzen. He was discovered by Hans Kusters. His "Ring Ring, I've Got To Sing" and "My Crucified Jesus" conquered the world with their mixture of skiffle, folk music and blues. At the height of his career he even performed at the Paris Olympia. The Belgian artist George Smits was a member of Ferre Grignard's band around that time.
After the ensuing international success, things started to go wrong. He went to live in a mansion, where he made music, painted and partied with the 20 friends who lived with him. He also refused to fill in his tax-forms, so after a while all royalties went directly to taxes. He neglected his career and was soon forgotten by his fans. A comeback in the seventies failed.
He died in Antwerp of throat cancer in 1982. At that time he was living in an attic without heating, surrounded by empty bottles. Ferre Grignard lies buried at the Schoonselhof cemetery, among many of Antwerp's most important citizens.

Discography

YearTitleLabelCat. No.
1966Ring, Ring, I've Got To SingFontana858 088 FPY
1968Ferre GrignardPhilips12837
1969Captain DisasterBarclay920 117
1972Fērrē GrignardDisques MotorsMT 44011
1978I Warned You!Philips6320 042

YearTitleLabelCat. No
1991The Best of Ferre GrignardPhilips845 5442
1997Het beste van Ferre GrignardPolygram536 0332
2002Lost TracksNijgh & Van Ditmar21311
2014IntegraalUniversal4702435

YearA-sideB-sideLabelCat. No.
1965Ring, Ring, I've Got To SingMaureenDe MuzeS 50116
1966Hash Bamboo Shuffle 1702Drunken SailorPhilips319 880
1966My Crucified JesusShe's GonePhilips319 875
1966Ring, Ring, I've Got To SingWe Want WarPhilips319870 bf
1966Drunken SailorHash Bamboo Shuffle 1702Philips319 880
1967A Worried ManMaureenPhilips319 892
1968Captain DisasterTell Me NowBarclay60 956
1968La, Si, DoYellow You, Yellow MeBarclay60 847
1969Close Your Noses … IfOld Joe ClarckBarclay60 868
1969Yama, Yama, HeyI Won't Have A DanceBarclay61 044
1971Railroad BillMaybe TomorrowDisques Motors6013 909
1972Lazy JohnShe's BackDisques Motors4022
1973Knockin' Me DownWhen I'm DownSsm001
1978I Warned YouAll RightPhilips6021 095