Ray David Grammont (12 October 1967 in Paris – 16 February 2021 in

Nancy, France Nancy ; Lorraine Franconian: ''Nanzisch'' is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the northeastern Departments of France, French department of Meurthe-et-Moselle. It was the capital of the Duchy of Lorraine, which was Lorraine and Barrois, an ...

), better known under his stage name Tonton David was a French Reggae singer born in

Réunion Réunion (; french: La Réunion, ; previously ''Île Bourbon''; rcf, label= Reunionese Creole, La Rényon) is an island in the Indian Ocean that is an overseas department and region of France. It is located approximately east of the island ...

. He was renowned for his raggamuffin performances, but used influences of soul music, gro kâ (from the French West Indies), the Zairian rumba.

Biography

Tonton David had a turbulent childhood in a suburb of Paris. He left his family aged 14 and had a successful career in music with songs featuring powerful and political lyrics. In 1990, Tonton David had his big break when he was featured in a TV report about " Black Paris". Following that performance, Tonton David was signed by the Virgin record label. Shortly after, he recorded "Peuples du monde", which was featured in French rap compilation ''Rapattitudes''. ''Le blues de la racaille'' released on 2 December 1991, was his debut album in which he explored social issues such as unemployment, poverty and racism, becoming a figurehead for a whole generation of disenchanted French youth. In 1991, he performed in front of an audience of 12,000 music fans at the Fête des Kafs in Saint Denis, La Réunion and in 1992 at Reggae Sunsplash festival in Kingston, Jamaica. In 1993, he released his second album ''Allez leur dire'' recorded in Memphis, Tennessee. "Sûr et certain" taken from the same album was released as a single. 1995 saw his biggest success to date with the release of the song "Chacun sa route", which was used in the soundtrack of the film '' Un indien dans la ville''. His third album ''Récidiviste'' in 1995 included the single "Pour tout le monde pareil" and featured a collaboration with rai star

Cheb Mami Mohamed Khelifati ( ar, محمد خليفاتي, ), better known by his stage name Cheb Mami ( ar, شاب مامي, link=no, , born 11 July 1966), is an Algerian musician and singer-songwriter. He sings and speaks in Algerian Arabic and sometim ...

in "Fugitifs". His fourth album ''Faut qu'ça arrête'' was more heavily influenced by Haitian music, after he collaborated with Haitian musician Papa Jube. Victim of a stroke (CVA) in Metz (France), his death was announced 2 days later in hospital of Nancy, on 16 February 2021.Mort de Tonton David : un AVC évoqué, une pluie d'hommages
''lintern@ute''. Retrieved on 17 February 2021

Discography

Albums

*1991: ''Le blues de la racaille'' *1994: ''Allez leur dire'' *1995: ''Récidiviste'' *1999: ''Faut qu'ça arrête'' *2002: ''Best Of'' (compilation album) *2005: ''Babelou, la gagne'' *2006: ''Livret de famille'' *2006: ''Il marche seul'' *2009: ''Ma gouille''

Singles

*1990: "Peuple du monde" (FR #32) *1994: "Chacun sa route" (with K.O.D.) *1994: "Sûr et certain" (FR #9) *1994: "Ma Number One" (FR #17) *1994: "Il marche seul" (FR #29) *1995: "Fugitif" (with

(FR #30) ;Featured in *2005: "La gagne" (

Intouchable Intouchable is a French rap band from Choisy-le-Roi, Val-de-Marne, founded in 1992 by rappers Dry and Demon One. They are also part of the rap/urban collective Mafia K-1 Fry. Besides important collaborations with the collective, the band rel ...

feat. Tonton David) (FR #40)

References

1967 births 2021 deaths French reggae musicians French reggae singers Musicians from Réunion {{france-musician-stub Réunionnais singers