Rennes (AFP)

Yvon and Henri Morvan, famous Breton singers of 85 and 88 years, announced Thursday night put an end to their career, started more than sixty years ago, was learned Friday with their entourage.

The Breton singers, known for their hit song "Joli Coucou", made this announcement during the All-Saints fest-noz organized by the Breton Democratic Union (UDB) in Paimpol (Côtes d'Armor), where they had their habits. "They are very sad to stop, they have held 61 years.But at age 85 and 88, fatigue begins to be felt," said Yvon Yvon's companion to the AFP, contacted by phone.

"People were very moved when it was announced," she added. For their last fest-noz, the Brothers Morvan a cappella sang the eleven songs of their repertoire "without paper, without a drink, for three quarters of an hour," she said.

Retired farmers and singers of "kan ha diskan", traditional singing and counter-singing in Breton language, the Morvan Brothers started their career in 1958, quickly becoming the essential singers of traditional Breton festivals (fest-noz) with chain dances or in rounds.

Dressed in the same stage outfit, bright checkered shirt, dark cap and plain dark trousers, the vocal quartet, which became trio after Yves' death in 1984, then duo since François disappeared in 2012, totaled more than 3,000 concerts, including in the most famous festivals of Brittany.

The Morvan brothers took part in most of the events of the rock festival Vieilles charrues in Carhaix, as well as the Bout du monde festival in the Crozon peninsula or the Transmusicales de Rennes.

Originally from Botcol in the commune of Saint-Nicodème (Côtes-d'Armor), the four single brothers were initiated to "kan ha diskan" by their mother Augustine who died in 1976, holding this singing technique of her father.

In 2009, the two "frangins" Henri, 80, and Yvon, 76, had been accompanied by the drums of the Bronx, during the festival of Old plows after singing a cappella their repertoire of songs to dance. Girls and boys had then hit the floor of the foot, as originally Plinn, the songs that accompanied the completion of a house to hit the dirt floor.

In February 2011, Nolwenn Leroy received the eighth Grand Prix of the Telegram record from the hands of his predecessors, the brothers Yvon and Henri Morvan.

© 2019 AFP