Frédéric François, now Knight of Arts and Letters
At the end of September, the Italian-Belgian singer Frédéric François was presented with the insignia of Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Embassy. This distinction has been awarded to the artist to celebrate his cross-border success.
Frédéric François, whose real name is Francesco Barracato, was born in Sicily and grew up in Liège. This miner's son developed a passion for music at a very young age. As a result, he attended courses at the Conservatoire de Liège, notably in singing and music theory.
In 1970, the singer released his first record in France under the pseudonym Frédéric François. But the turning point of his career came in the 1980s. His songs, which included "Mon cœur te dit je t’aime" and "Je t’aime à l’italienne", enjoyed phenomenal success.
His popularity with the general public in Belgium, France and even worldwide continues to grow. In the 1990s, Frédéric François performed at the Olympia, toured America and also represented France in a "Concerto Natale in Vaticano" where he sang for the children of the world.
In 1999, the artist received the insignia of Knight of Arts and Letters of the Order of Léopold II by the then Belgian Minister of Culture, Pierre Hazette. France has now also decided to honour Frédéric François, whose hits have got the Belgians and French dancing for many years.