fbpx
Wikipedia

Marie-Louise Damien

September 25, 2023

Marie-Louise Damien (born Louise Marie Damien; 5 December 1889 – 30 January 1978), better known by the stage name Damia, was a French singer and actress.

Damia
Damia in 1920
Born
Louise Marie Damien

(1889-12-05)5 December 1889
Paris, French Third Republic
Died30 January 1978(1978-01-30) (aged 88)
La Celle-Saint-Cloud, France
Resting placeCimetière parisien de Pantin[1]
NationalityFrench
Other namesMarise Damia, Maryse Damia
Occupation(s)Singer, actress
PartnerGab Sorère (1928–1961, her death)

Early life Edit

Louise Marie Damien was born on 5 December 1889 to Marie Joséphine Louise (née Claude) and Nicolas Damien[2] on rue Jeanne d'Arc in the 13th arrondissement of Paris. Her father was a police sergeant in Lorraine and she was raised in a family of eight siblings. Running away from home after being sent to a reform school, Damien arrived in Paris when she was fifteen.[3]

Career Edit

Damien initially worked as a model and actress playing bit parts with the Théâtre du Châtelet,[3] but by 1909 was performing as a dancer, using the stage name Marise Damia, with Max Dearly in London.[3][4][5] After returning from London, she was encouraged to sing by the impresario Robert Hollard, who used the stage name "Roberty".[3] Hollard was the husband of the singer, Fréhel, at the time and his affair with Damia ended his stormy marriage.[6] Her singing debut occurred in 1911 at the Pépinière and was followed by a performance at the Alhambra,[3] which was arranged by Harry Fragson. He also arranged for her to perform at the Alcazar d'Été, where she worked with Maurice Chevalier. When Fragson was murdered by his father, Damia left France in 1913 and went to the United States. Performing on Broadway until 1916,[7] she returned to France and during the remainder of the war sang on the war front.[3]

Felix Mayol and Loie Fuller Edit

After being seen by Félix Mayol, one of the leading male singing stars at the time, he hired her to perform at his concerts. Despite this, her career evolved slowly, taking second billing for a number of years but with help in her stage presentation from the American dancer, Loie Fuller, she eventually became a singing star. At the beginning of World War I she opened Le Concert Damia, in Montmartre, where she became the first star ever to have a single spotlight trained on her face, bare arms and hands. From this point in her career she became the most important exponent of the chanson réaliste genre until Édith Piaf came along in 1936. Her nickname was "la tragédienne de la chanson", and amongst her big hits were "Les goélands", "Johnny Palmer", "C'est mon gigolo" and "Tu ne sais pas aimer"—the latter song later became a theme for French people with AIDS.

Eileen Gray Edit

Around 1922, Damia became the lover of the architect Eileen Gray, who was a member of a circle of lesbians which included Fuller and her lover Gab Sorère, Natalie Barney and Romaine Brooks.[8][9][10] Upon Fuller's death in 1928, Damia and Sorère became lovers.[8]

Films Edit

In 1927, she appeared in the film, Napoléon directed by Abel Gance with early silent film stars Antonin Artaud, Philippe Hériat, Annabella, and Suzanne Bianchetti. Her other film successes included "Sola" and "Notre Dame De Paris", alongside Anthony Quinn. Damia had enduring appeal that stretched to audiences as far away as Japan where she toured in 1953.

Farewell tour Edit

A few years later she did a farewell tour, ending her more than forty-year career in a double bill with Marie Dubasin front of a full house at the Paris Olympia. Her actual swansong, however, was singing "Les Croix" on "La joie de vivre d'Edith Piaf", in 1956.

When asked in 1974 by the Anglo-French biographer David Bret to divulge the secret of her long life and fabulous voice, Damia replied, "Three packs of Gitanes a day!"

Death Edit

Damia died on 30 January 1978 at La Celle-Saint-Cloud,[11] a western suburb of Paris, and was interred in the Cimetière de Pantin. Today, she is considered to be[by whom?] the second greatest singer of chansons réalistes, after Edith Piaf.

Selected filmography Edit

References Edit

Citations Edit

  1. ^ Damia: une diva française, by Francesco Rapazzini, Perrin, 2010, pg 356
  2. ^ Archives de Paris 1889, p. 13.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Conway 2004, p. 159.
  4. ^ Bret 1992, p. 30.
  5. ^ Mainly About People 1909, p. 12.
  6. ^ King 2018, p. 268.
  7. ^ Bret 1992, p. 56.
  8. ^ a b Corinne 2012, p. 434.
  9. ^ Rault 2006, pp. 18–19.
  10. ^ Rault 2017, pp. 14–15.
  11. ^ The Daily News 1978, p. 59.

Bibliography Edit

  • Bret, David (1992). Maurice Chevalier: Up on top of a Rainbow. London, England: Robson Books Ltd. ISBN 978-0-860-51789-4.
  • Conway, Kelley (2004). Chanteuse in the City: The Realist Singer in French Film. Oakland, California: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-93857-1.
  • Corinne, Tee A. (2012). "Gray, Eileen (1878-1976)". In Summers, Claude (ed.). The Queer Encyclopedia of the Visual Arts. San Francisco, California: Cleis Press Inc. pp. 433–435. ISBN 978-1-57344-874-1.
  • King, Gemma (2018). "Fréhel (1891-1951): (Marguerite Boulc'h) A Tragic, Epic Life". In Abecassis, Michaël; Block, Marcelline (eds.). An Anthology of French and Francophone Singers from A to Z: "Singin' in French". Newcastle upon Tyne, England: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. pp. 267–270. ISBN 978-1-5275-1205-4.
  • Rault, Jasmine (2017). Eileen Gray and the Design of Sapphic Modernity: Staying In. Abingdon-on-Thames, England: Routledge, Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-351-56857-9.
  • Rault, Jasmine (August 2006). Eileen Gray: New Angles on Gender and Sexuality (PDF) (PhD). Montreal, Québec, Canada: McGill University. ISBN 978-0-494-32233-8.
  • "Damia". The Daily News. New York City. 1 February 1978. p. 59. Retrieved 18 June 2018 – via Newspapers.com.  
  • "Damien 3026" [Memorial plaques near the hospital Semashko]. Archives de Paris (in French). Paris, France: City of Paris. 5 December 1889. p. 13. Birth certificate #3026. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  • "(untitled)". Vol. 22, no. 576. London, England: Mainly About People (M. A. P.). 26 June 1909. p. 12. Retrieved 18 June 2018 – via Newspaperarchive.com.  

External links Edit

September 25, 2023
marie, louise, damien, born, louise, marie, damien, december, 1889, january, 1978, better, known, stage, name, damia, french, singer, actress, damiadamia, 1920bornlouise, marie, damien, 1889, december, 1889paris, french, third, republicdied30, january, 1978, 1. Marie Louise Damien born Louise Marie Damien 5 December 1889 30 January 1978 better known by the stage name Damia was a French singer and actress DamiaDamia in 1920BornLouise Marie Damien 1889 12 05 5 December 1889Paris French Third RepublicDied30 January 1978 1978 01 30 aged 88 La Celle Saint Cloud FranceResting placeCimetiere parisien de Pantin 1 NationalityFrenchOther namesMarise Damia Maryse DamiaOccupation s Singer actressPartnerGab Sorere 1928 1961 her death Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Felix Mayol and Loie Fuller 4 Eileen Gray 5 Films 6 Farewell tour 7 Death 8 Selected filmography 9 References 9 1 Citations 9 2 Bibliography 10 External linksEarly life EditLouise Marie Damien was born on 5 December 1889 to Marie Josephine Louise nee Claude and Nicolas Damien 2 on rue Jeanne d Arc in the 13th arrondissement of Paris Her father was a police sergeant in Lorraine and she was raised in a family of eight siblings Running away from home after being sent to a reform school Damien arrived in Paris when she was fifteen 3 Career EditDamien initially worked as a model and actress playing bit parts with the Theatre du Chatelet 3 but by 1909 was performing as a dancer using the stage name Marise Damia with Max Dearly in London 3 4 5 After returning from London she was encouraged to sing by the impresario Robert Hollard who used the stage name Roberty 3 Hollard was the husband of the singer Frehel at the time and his affair with Damia ended his stormy marriage 6 Her singing debut occurred in 1911 at the Pepiniere and was followed by a performance at the Alhambra 3 which was arranged by Harry Fragson He also arranged for her to perform at the Alcazar d Ete where she worked with Maurice Chevalier When Fragson was murdered by his father Damia left France in 1913 and went to the United States Performing on Broadway until 1916 7 she returned to France and during the remainder of the war sang on the war front 3 Felix Mayol and Loie Fuller EditAfter being seen by Felix Mayol one of the leading male singing stars at the time he hired her to perform at his concerts Despite this her career evolved slowly taking second billing for a number of years but with help in her stage presentation from the American dancer Loie Fuller she eventually became a singing star At the beginning of World War I she opened Le Concert Damia in Montmartre where she became the first star ever to have a single spotlight trained on her face bare arms and hands From this point in her career she became the most important exponent of the chanson realiste genre until Edith Piaf came along in 1936 Her nickname was la tragedienne de la chanson and amongst her big hits were Les goelands Johnny Palmer C est mon gigolo and Tu ne sais pas aimer the latter song later became a theme for French people with AIDS Eileen Gray EditAround 1922 Damia became the lover of the architect Eileen Gray who was a member of a circle of lesbians which included Fuller and her lover Gab Sorere Natalie Barney and Romaine Brooks 8 9 10 Upon Fuller s death in 1928 Damia and Sorere became lovers 8 Films EditIn 1927 she appeared in the film Napoleon directed by Abel Gance with early silent film stars Antonin Artaud Philippe Heriat Annabella and Suzanne Bianchetti Her other film successes included Sola and Notre Dame De Paris alongside Anthony Quinn Damia had enduring appeal that stretched to audiences as far away as Japan where she toured in 1953 Farewell tour EditA few years later she did a farewell tour ending her more than forty year career in a double bill with Marie Dubasin front of a full house at the Paris Olympia Her actual swansong however was singing Les Croix on La joie de vivre d Edith Piaf in 1956 When asked in 1974 by the Anglo French biographer David Bret to divulge the secret of her long life and fabulous voice Damia replied Three packs of Gitanes a day Death EditDamia died on 30 January 1978 at La Celle Saint Cloud 11 a western suburb of Paris and was interred in the Cimetiere de Pantin Today she is considered to be by whom the second greatest singer of chansons realistes after Edith Piaf Selected filmography EditCalais Dover 1931 Alone 1931 La tete d un homme 1933 References EditCitations Edit Damia une diva francaise by Francesco Rapazzini Perrin 2010 pg 356 Archives de Paris 1889 p 13 a b c d e f Conway 2004 p 159 Bret 1992 p 30 Mainly About People 1909 p 12 King 2018 p 268 Bret 1992 p 56 a b Corinne 2012 p 434 Rault 2006 pp 18 19 Rault 2017 pp 14 15 The Daily News 1978 p 59 Bibliography Edit Bret David 1992 Maurice Chevalier Up on top of a Rainbow London England Robson Books Ltd ISBN 978 0 860 51789 4 Conway Kelley 2004 Chanteuse in the City The Realist Singer in French Film Oakland California University of California Press ISBN 978 0 520 93857 1 Corinne Tee A 2012 Gray Eileen 1878 1976 In Summers Claude ed The Queer Encyclopedia of the Visual Arts San Francisco California Cleis Press Inc pp 433 435 ISBN 978 1 57344 874 1 King Gemma 2018 Frehel 1891 1951 Marguerite Boulc h A Tragic Epic Life In Abecassis Michael Block Marcelline eds An Anthology of French and Francophone Singers from A to Z Singin in French Newcastle upon Tyne England Cambridge Scholars Publishing pp 267 270 ISBN 978 1 5275 1205 4 Rault Jasmine 2017 Eileen Gray and the Design of Sapphic Modernity Staying In Abingdon on Thames England Routledge Taylor amp Francis ISBN 978 1 351 56857 9 Rault Jasmine August 2006 Eileen Gray New Angles on Gender and Sexuality PDF PhD Montreal Quebec Canada McGill University ISBN 978 0 494 32233 8 Damia The Daily News New York City 1 February 1978 p 59 Retrieved 18 June 2018 via Newspapers com nbsp Damien 3026 Memorial plaques near the hospital Semashko Archives de Paris in French Paris France City of Paris 5 December 1889 p 13 Birth certificate 3026 Retrieved 18 June 2018 untitled Vol 22 no 576 London England Mainly About People M A P 26 June 1909 p 12 Retrieved 18 June 2018 via Newspaperarchive com nbsp External links EditDamia at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Marie Louise Damien amp oldid 1163225374, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.