Paris (AFP)

Fred Mella, the last of the Compagnons de la Chanson, a very popular vocal group from the 1950s to the 1970s, died on Saturday night at the age of 95, his son, Michel, told AFP.

The former solo tenor of the Compagnons de la Chanson, who had nine members, died "at 9:25 pm among his family, peacefully" in his house in Goupillières (Yvelines), he said.

Born March 10, 1924 in Annonay (Ardèche), Fred Mella, whose parents were of Italian origin, was a school teacher a few years before joining Les Compagnons. His exceptional voice timbre quickly imposed him as a soloist of the group.

"To Fred, my direct competitor for + Les Trois Cloches +," wrote Edith Piaf, after this song recorded with Les Compagnons de la Chanson that she took on tour in the United States in 1947.

That same year, Fred Mella married Quebec actress Suzanne Avon, whom he had two children with.

In 2006, Fred Mella published his memories under the title "My Enchanting Masters", an autobiography dedicated to Georges Brassens, Charles Trenet and Charles Aznavour of which he was the friend. He gave a last concert in 2008, at L'Olympia, 25 years after the farewells of the Compagnons de la Chanson.

Founded in 1941, first under the name of the Companions of France, then Companions of Music, the group of Compagnons de la Chanson took flight at the Liberation, with like other godfathers Yves Montand and Charles Aznavour.

They said goodbye in 1983 on their favorite scene of L'Olympia. Fred Mella continued for a few years a solo career.

Group of French chanson "à l'ancienne", the Compagnons de la Chanson had from their beginnings adopted a uniform that never left them: white shirt and blue pants.

The other "Companions" were Jean Broussolle (1920-1984), Guy Bourguignon (1920-1969), Jean-Louis Jaubert (1920-2013), Hubert Lancelot (1923-1995), Jean-Pierre Calvet (1925-1989), Gérard Sabbat (1926-2013), Jo Frachon (1919-1992) and René Mella (1926-2019), Fred's brother, who died at the end of September.

© 2019 AFP