Jean Gabilou (born Gabriel Lewis Laughlin on 28 February 1944) is a

Tahiti Tahiti (; Tahitian language, Tahitian , ; ) is the largest island of the Windward Islands (Society Islands), Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France. It is located in the central part of t ...

based singer who represented France in the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest.

Early life

Born into a family of ten children, he grew up in

Papeete Papeete (Tahitian language, Tahitian: ''Papeʻetē'', pronounced ; old name: ''Vaiʻetē''Personal communication with Michael Koch in ) is the capital city of French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of the France, French Republic in the Pacific ...

until the age of 13, before moving to Faa'a with his family. He is of Polynesian descent. In 1963, a friend, Raoul Robert, asked him to sing a melody at the Matavai Hotel. He then interpreted two

waltz The waltz ( , meaning "to roll or revolve") is a ballroom dance, ballroom and folk dance, in triple (3/4 time, time), performed primarily in closed position. Along with the ländler and allemande, the waltz was sometimes referred to by the ...

es and the religious song " When The Saints Go Marching In" in rock version. The same evening he received his first contract, for 60 francs an hour. He first worked with the Vernaudon brothers for two years, then started performing at the Pitate Club with the Hars Brothers for another two years. Laughlin was then approached by Petiot, a guitarist for a group called The Barefoot Boys, which he joined at the age of 23. However, in 1968, Laughlin left the group.

Career

Following his departure from the Barefoot Boys, Laughlin founded the Banjo Boys, a group formed with his friends Kitty Salmon, Jacky Bougues, Marius Charles and Michael Garcia. Their song "Little Sacred Island" was released in 1968 and sold 54,000 copies. In 1971, he sang at the hotel Tahara'a and was noticed by a lady named Paulette Vienot who, during that year, gets Laughlin signed for a contract in Paris with Eddie Barclay compiling the song "Moi girls". Which did not meet the expected success that was hoped. In 1979, he moved to the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. Two years later, he was contacted to represent

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

in the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest with the song " Humanahum". He finished third with 125 points, seven points behind

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

's Lena Valaitis and eleven points behind the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

's Bucks Fizz, who won the contest. In 1983, he celebrated his twenty-year career in

. In 1985, he married Moeata Sasson, an accomplished dancer for the Tahitian dance troupe "Tamari'i Fautaua. A few years later, Moeata staged her own dance troupe "Tamari'i Poerava", whose dancers then began performing alongside Gabilou. In early 2018, he recorded the song "Source de ma vie" ("Source of My Life".) in a duet with New Caledonian singer Claudia Haustien.

Later life

In 1993 he returned on stage with "Hei No". However, in 1995, feeling ill, Gabilou went to a medical clinic in Papeete where he was diagnosed with having paralyzed vocal cords. Despite the bad news, he fought to regain his voice and left for France where he met speech therapist Dr Veil. After attending numerous rehabilitation sessions he regained his voice and released the album "Rohipehe" In 2000 Gabilou decided to produce his own songs together with his friend and singer Andy Tupaia. Along with John Marote Mariassouce, the song "Fakateretere" featured on the album with the same name, was produced. It sold 20,000 copies and continues to be recognised throughout the Pacific as his signature song. Gabilou continues to perform on stage. In 2001 and 2002 he was invited to Rarotonga, Cook Islands where he had also lived previously, to sing in front of 3500 people. In 2003 he performed at the Oscars of Polynesian music. On 8 June 2013 he celebrated his 50th year in the industry with a concert in Pape'ete's House of Culture.

Discography

*2007 - Le Fafaru *2006 - Avini Ute *2005 - Homai-Heiatea *2004- Keanu *2003 - Poerava *2001 - Fakateretere *1999 - Barefoot, en souvenir de Joe Garbutt *1997 - Rohipehe *1996 - Na oe Vairea *1994 - Mama Ella *1992 - Hei No Tamatoa *1990 - Nohoarii *1989 - Hianau *1988 - Esther et Gabilou, leurs plus grands succès

References

* http://www.last.fm/music/Jean+Gabilou {{DEFAULTSORT:Gabilou, Jean 1944 births Living people People from Papeete French pop singers French Polynesian musicians Eurovision Song Contest entrants