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Patrick Hernandez picture

Patrick Hernandez

Acting
Known For

76 Years Old

Patrick Pierre Hernandez (born 6 April 1949) is a French singer who had a worldwide hit with "Born to Be Alive" in 1979. Born to a Spanish father and an Italian mother in Le Blanc-Mesnil, Seine-Saint-Denis, Hernandez grew up in the 1960s and was interested in music. He toured dancehalls and ballrooms in southern France with a number of groups over the next decade. Hernández met his music partner Hervé Tholance, an arranger, guitarist, and vocalist, during that period. The two formed a duo and achieved local success backing French musicians such as Francis Cabrel, Laurent Voulzy, and the French group Gold. In 1978, Hernandez met the producer Jean Vanloo with disco music at its peak, and signed a recording contract. Hernández went to Waterloo, Belgium to work on songs. After working for about a year, the songs were released on the Aariana sub-label Aquarius Records (in France) in November 1978. The first single that was released was the disco song "Born to Be Alive". Its success was immediate, and in January 1979, Hernandez received his first gold record from Italy. The song spread throughout Europe, where it hit #1 in France in April and remained there until July. By then, the United States had caught on, and after some remixing, the record was signed to the A-Tom-Mik label and later Columbia Records. The remixed version was released on a commercial 12" single; it peaked on the US Billboard disco chart at #1 and crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at #16. It sold over one million copies in the US. The track reached #10 in the UK Singles Chart. By year's end, Hernandez had racked up 52 gold and platinum records from more than 50 countries. While Hernandez was touring the United States, he was accompanied by Vanloo and his friend Jean-Claude Pellerin. Vanloo and Pellerin held auditions in New York that spring for dancers to accompany Hernández on his worldwide tour. The chosen dancers included a young Madonna. Hernandez's follow-ups to "Born to Be Alive" did not fare as well in the US. "Disco Queen" backed with "Show Me the Way You Kiss" sold poorly, but the album Born to Be Alive sold well and won him a Billboard Award in February 1980. As a result of this lack of subsequent success he has earned the title of "One Hit Wonder." In 1981, Hernandez released the import 12" single of "Goodbye", first released on Aariana Records and then a remixed version on the parent-label Aquarius Records (in France). It was not released in the US, although an album followed the single's release, but found no market in the US. Source: Article "Patrick Hernandez" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Born

Le Blanc-Mesnil, Seine-Saint-Denis, France on 6th April 1949

All Credits

Vivement dimanche Image
Vivement dimanche
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Midi Première Image
Midi Première
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Les Rendez-vous du dimanche Image
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
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Star Academy Image
Star Academy
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Tous en cuisine avec Cyril Lignac Image
Tous en cuisine avec Cyril Lignac
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Numéro un Image
Numéro un
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Taratata Image
Taratata
Self
Collaro Show Image
Collaro Show
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Ciao Darwin Image
Ciao Darwin
Ospite Musicale
The Footy Show (AFL) Image
The Footy Show (AFL)
Self (archive footage)
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Système 2
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Les 30 meilleurs tubes des années 80 Image
Les 30 meilleurs tubes des années 80
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Stars 80 Image
Stars 80
Patrick Hernandez
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Panique au 31
Patrick Hernandez
La TV des 70's : Quand Giscard était président Image
La TV des 70's : Quand Giscard était président
Self (archive footage)
In France with Madonna Image
In France with Madonna
Self (archive footage)
Stars 80, la suite Image
Stars 80, la suite
Patrick Hernandez
Stars 80, le concert au Stade de France Image
Stars 80, le concert au Stade de France
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Stars 80 encore !
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Stars 80 vs Stars 90, la grande battle Image
Stars 80 vs Stars 90, la grande battle
Self - Guest
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Taratata fête les 40 ans de Bercy
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Stars 80 - Triomphe
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Jean Vanloo: King of Clubs Image
Jean Vanloo: King of Clubs
Self