Gabriel Yacoub
{{Short description|French musician (1952–2025)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Gabriel Yacoub
| image = 2011-11-13 Lyon Sur scène 1.JPG
| image_upright = 1.2
| caption = Yacoub performing in 2011
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1952|02|04|df=y}}
| birth_place = Paris, France
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|01|22|1952|02|04|df=y}}
| death_place = Bourges, France
| genre = Celtic music, Breton Music
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|composer|musician}}
| years_active = 1971–2017
| label = Le Roseau
| spouse = Marie Sauvet
| website = {{website|gabrielyacoub.com}}
}}
Gabriel Yacoub (4 February 1952 – 22 January 2025) was a French musician and visual artist. He was a lead member of the Celtic music band Malicorne from its formation in 1973, as a pioneer of the revival of traditional music in contemporary formats. He later also played and recorded solo music, including to his own lyrics.
Life and career
Yacoub was born in Paris on 4 February 1952 to a Lebanese father and a French mother. His early musical interests, in the 1960s, was American folk music, first by Bob Dylan, then by Woody Guthrie and real American traditional music. He was inspired, but looked for something with French cultural roots. He became a guitarist and singer with the group of harpist Alan Stivell who introduced him to traditional Breton music and toured France in 1971.
Before founding Malicorne, Gabriel and his then wife Marie Sauvet recorded the experimental album Pierre de Grenoble in 1973. This was originally intended to be the name of the group. It included contributions from Breton guitarist-singer Dan Ar Braz. In 1973, they co-founded Malicorne, to revive traditional French music and combined modern instruments, including guitar, electric guitar and bass guitar, with traditional instruments such as bagpipes, hurdy-gurdy and krumhorns. Gabriel played guitars, mandolin, Epinette des Vosges and banjo, while Marie played electric dulcimer, bouzouki and hurdy-gurdy. They made a number of successful albums, of which the 1976 Almanach was regarded as the most popular.
In 1978, Yacoub recorded a solo album called Trad. Arr., which featured English fiddler Barry Dransfield as guest; he played traditional French tunes with acoustic guitar, and began to write and compose original songs.
After disbanding for the first time, at the end of 1981, Malicorne reformed in different configurations in 1984, in 1986 and again from 1987 to 1989. The group played in its original line-up for a single concert on 15 July 2010, in La Rochelle and finally, in November 2011, with a new line-up. In August 2017, a concert in Paimpol, as part of the Sea Shanty Festival, was the band's last appearance.
In 1986, the final year of Malicorne, Yacoub recorded Elementary Level of Faith, an album of electric folk-rock, with the Hungarian composer Ivan Lantos and the singer and keyboardist Nikki Matheson. In 1990, his next album, Bel, was back to acoustic guitar. It features a string quartet as well as bagpipes played by Jean-Pierre Rasle (who had previously recorded, from 1982 to 1983, with the Albion Band). Yacoub toured as a duo with Marie in 1990. In 1994 he released Quatre, featuring an orchestra and a choir. He worked with fiddler Nathalie Riviere and bassist Yannick Hardouin from 1998.
In February 1995, he performed at the Palais des Sports, in Paris, opening for Bernard Lavilliers, and in May that year at La Cigale.
File:Gabriel Yacoub et Alan Stivell à Paimpol août 2017.jpg, August 2017]]
In 2002, he wrote a book of poetry and lyrics, called Les choses les plus simples ("The simplest things"), distributed by Harmonia Mundi and recorded an album of his own songs in English, The Simple Things We Said.
In July 2013, Yacoub was honoured as an officer of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
Yacoub died after a long illness at a hospital in Bourges on 22 January 2025, at the age of 72.
Discography
= Gabriel and Marie Yacoub =
= Malicorne =
: see also Malicorne discography
= Solo =
{{div col}}
- {{ill|Trad. Arr.|fr}} (1978)
- {{ill|Elementary Level of Faith|fr}} (1987)
- {{ill|Bel (album)|fr|lt=Bel}} (1990)
- {{ill|Quatre (album)|fr|lt=Quatre}} (1994)
- {{ill|Babel (Yacoub album)|fr|(album de Gabriel Yacoub)|lt=Babel}} (1997)
- {{ill|Tri (Yacoub album)|fr|Tri (album)|lt=Tri}} (compilation) (1999)
- {{ill|Yacoub (album)|fr|lt=Yacoub}} (2001)
- {{ill|The Simple Things We Said|fr}} (2002)
- {{ill|Je vois venir...|fr}} (2004)
- {{ill|De la nature des choses|fr|De la nature des choses (album)}} (2008)
{{div col end}}
References
{{reflist
|refs =
| last = Carpentier
| first = Laurent
| url = https://www.lemonde.fr/culture/article/2025/01/23/la-mort-de-gabriel-yacoub-cofondateur-du-groupe-de-folk-francais-malicorne_6511730_3246.html
| title = La mort de Gabriel Yacoub, cofondateur du groupe de folk français Malicorne
| date = 23 January 2025
| newspaper = Le Monde
| trans-title = Death of Gabriel Yacoub, co-founder of folk group Malicorne
| language = fr
| access-date = 25 January 2025
}}
| last = Grosdemouge
| first = Jean-Marc
| url = https://www.acid-magazine.fr/2004/11/gabriel-yacoub-je-vois-venir/
| title = Gabriel Yacoub / Je vois venir
| magazine = A.C.I.D.
| date = 10 November 2004
}}
| last = Harris
| first = Craig
| url = https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gabriel-yacoub-mn0000687800
| title = Gabriel Yacoub
| date =
| work = AllMusic
| access-date = 27 January 2025
| archive-date = 23 January 2025
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250123092521/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gabriel-yacoub-mn0000687800
| url-status = live
}}
| last = Lee
| first = Hélène
| url = https://www.liberation.fr/culture/1995/02/16/sur-le-mode-yacoub_123083/
| title = Sur le mode Yacoub
| work = Libération
| date = 16 February 1995
| trans-title = In Yacoub mode
| access-date = 26 January 2025
| language = fr
| archive-date = 22 January 2025
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250122125004/https://www.liberation.fr/culture/1995/02/16/sur-le-mode-yacoub_123083/
| url-status = live
}}
| last = Moll
| first = Michael
| url = http://www.folkworld.eu/14/e/yacoub.html
| title = French Folk cooking slowly
| work = FolkWorld
| date = June 2000
| access-date = 27 January 2025
}}
| last = Olivas
| first = Diego
| url = https://www.fondsound.com/gabriel-yacoub-elementary-level-of-faith-1987/
| title = Gabriel Yacoub: Elementary Level Of Faith (1987)
| website = fondsound.com
| date = 4 June 2019
| access-date = 23 January 2025
| archive-date = 31 January 2025
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250131141632/https://www.fondsound.com/gabriel-yacoub-elementary-level-of-faith-1987/
| url-status = live
}}
| last = Peigné
| first = Thierry
| url = https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/bretagne/cotes-d-armor/festival-paimpol-groupe-malicorne-tire-sa-reverence-1310835.html
| title = Festival Paimpol: le groupe Malicorne tire sa révérence
| trans-title = Paimpol Festival: the Malicorne group bows out
| date = 12 August 2017
| website = france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr
| access-date = 20 January 2025
| language = fr
| archive-date = 18 February 2025
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250218114353/https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/bretagne/cotes-d-armor/festival-paimpol-groupe-malicorne-tire-sa-reverence-1310835.html
| url-status = live
}}
| last = Postic
| first = Laurence
| url = https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/bretagne/ille-et-vilaine/rennes/mort-de-gabriel-yacoub-de-ses-debuts-a-son-dernier-concert-a-paimpol-ce-que-le-fondateur-de-malicorne-a-donne-a-la-bretagne-3095629.html
| title = Mort de Gabriel Yacoub. De ses débuts à son dernier concert à Paimpol, ce que le fondateur de Malicorne a donné à la Bretagne
| date = 22 January 2025
| work = france3
| language = fr
| access-date = 25 January 2025
| trans-title = Death of Gabriel Yacoub. From his beginnings to his last concert in Paimpol, what the founder of Malicorne gave to Brittany
| archive-date = 22 January 2025
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250122163552/https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/bretagne/ille-et-vilaine/rennes/mort-de-gabriel-yacoub-de-ses-debuts-a-son-dernier-concert-a-paimpol-ce-que-le-fondateur-de-malicorne-a-donne-a-la-bretagne-3095629.html
| url-status = live
}}
| last = Stivell
| first = Marco
| url = http://fp.nightfall.fr/index_3925_gabriel-yacoub-de-la-nature-des-choses.html
| title = Gabriel Yacoub: De La Nature Ded Choses. (2006)
| website = Forces parallèles
| date = 19 January 2012
| language = fr
| access-date = 23 January 2025
| archive-date = 25 January 2025
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250125190949/http://fp.nightfall.fr/index_3925_gabriel-yacoub-de-la-nature-des-choses.html
| url-status = live
}}
| last = Stivell
| first = Marco
| url = http://fp.nightfall.fr/index_2736_gabriel-yacoub-trad-arr-.html
| title = Gabriel Yacoub: Trad. Arr. (1978)
| website = Forces parallèles
| date = 3 October 2010
| language = fr
| access-date = 23 January 2025
| archive-date = 25 January 2025
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250125191010/http://fp.nightfall.fr/index_2736_gabriel-yacoub-trad-arr-.html
| url-status = live
}}
| last = Stivell
| first = Marco
| url = http://fp.nightfall.fr/index_3161_gabriel-yacoub-quatre.html
| title = Gabriel Yacoub: Quatre (1994)
| website = Forces parallèles
| date = 10 April 2011
| language = fr
| access-date = 23 January 2025
| archive-date = 25 January 2025
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250125190940/http://fp.nightfall.fr/index_3161_gabriel-yacoub-quatre.html
| url-status = live
}}
| url = https://www.allmusic.com/album/babel-mw0000605633
| title = Babel
| website = AllMusic
| access-date = 27 January 2025
| archive-date = 25 January 2025
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250125191031/https://www.allmusic.com/album/babel-mw0000605633
| url-status = live
}}
| url = https://www.allmusic.com/album/bel-mw0000057106
| title = Bel
| website = AllMusic
| access-date = 27 January 2025
}}
| url = http://www.gabrielyacoub.com/fr/biographie.php
| title = Gabriel Yacoub / Biographie
| website = gabrielyacoub.com
| access-date = 27 January 2025
| archive-date = 3 July 2024
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240703115755/http://www.gabrielyacoub.com/fr/biographie.php
| url-status = live
}}
| url = http://www.gabrielyacoub.com/en/contribution.php
| title = Gabriel Yacoub / Contribution
| website = www.gabrielyacoub.com
| access-date = 27 January 2025
| archive-date = 25 January 2025
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250125191031/http://www.gabrielyacoub.com/en/contribution.php
| url-status = live
}}
| url = https://www.lefigaro.fr/musique/gabriel-yacoub-fondateur-du-groupe-de-folk-malicorne-est-decede-a-72-ans-20250122?msockid=205733e1eb216aa615c9269dea226bb6
| title = Gabriel Yacoub, fondateur du groupe de folk Malicorne, est décédé à 72 ans
| date = 22 January 2025
| newspaper = Le Figaro
| trans-title = Gabriel Yacoub, founder of folk group Malicorne, has died at 72
| agency = AFP
| language = fr
| access-date = 22 January 2025
| archive-date = 25 January 2025
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250125190906/https://www.lefigaro.fr/musique/gabriel-yacoub-fondateur-du-groupe-de-folk-malicorne-est-decede-a-72-ans-20250122?msockid=205733e1eb216aa615c9269dea226bb6
| url-status = live
}}
| url = http://fp.nightfall.fr/index_1311_pierre-de-grenoble-pierre-de-grenoble.html
| title = Pierre De Grenoble (1973)
| website = Forces parallèles
| date = 20 February 2007
| access-date = 27 January 2025
| language = fr
| archive-date = 24 February 2025
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250224004214/http://fp.nightfall.fr/index_1311_pierre-de-grenoble-pierre-de-grenoble.html
| url-status = live
}}
| url = http://www.france-phaleristique.com/oal_promo_09-07-2013.htm
| title = Arrêté du 9 juillet 2013 portant nomination dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
| work = Ministére de la Culture at de la Communication
| date = 9 July 2013
| access-date = 28 January 2025
| language = fr
| archive-date = 26 January 2025
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250126160007/http://www.france-phaleristique.com/oal_promo_09-07-2013.htm
| url-status = live
}}
| url = https://www.allmusic.com/album/malicorne-mw0000858414
| title = Malicorne
| website = AllMusic
| access-date = 27 January 2025
| archive-date = 24 February 2025
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250224004159/https://www.allmusic.com/album/malicorne-mw0000858414
| url-status = live
}}
| url = https://www.allmusic.com/album/malicorne-2-mw0000899673
| title = Malicorne 2
| website = AllMusic
| access-date = 27 January 2025
| archive-date = 24 February 2025
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250224004157/https://www.allmusic.com/album/malicorne-2-mw0000899673
| url-status = live
}}
| url = http://www.allmusic.com/album/release/almanach-mr0001397071
| title = Almanach
| website = AllMusic
| access-date = 27 January 2025
}}
| url = https://www.allmusic.com/album/malicorne-iv-mw0000899930
| title = Malicorne IV
| website = AllMusic
| access-date = 27 January 2025
| archive-date = 24 February 2025
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250224004146/https://www.allmusic.com/album/malicorne-iv-mw0000899930
| url-status = live
}}
| url = https://www.allmusic.com/album/quintessence-mw0000464157
| title = Quintessence
| website = AllMusic
| access-date = 27 January 2025
| archive-date = 24 February 2025
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250224004151/https://www.allmusic.com/album/quintessence-mw0000464157
| url-status = live
}}
| url = https://www.rootsworld.com/reviews/yacoub-simple.shtml
| title = Gabriel Yacoub / The Simple Things We Said
| work = RootsWorld Recording
| date = 2001
| access-date = 27 January 2025
}}
| url = https://www.allmusic.com/album/tri-mw0000240882
| title = Tri
| website = AllMusic
| access-date = 27 January 2025
}}
| url = https://www.allmusic.com/album/yacoub-mw0001206327
| title = Yacoub
| website = AllMusic
| access-date = 27 January 2025
| archive-date = 25 January 2025
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250125191027/https://www.allmusic.com/album/yacoub-mw0001206327
| url-status = live
}}
| last=Yacoub
| first=Gabriel
| title=Les choses les plus simples
| publisher=Editions Christian Pirot
| date=2002
| isbn=978-2-86808-181-0
| language=fr
| page=
}}
| last=Yacoub
| first=Gabriel
| title=The simple things we said Enregistrement publique
| publisher=Simple
| publication-place=[Villecomble (Haut-de-Seine)]
| year=2004
| oclc=659160864
| language=fr
| page=
}}
}}
External links
{{commonscat}}
- {{official|http://www.gabrielyacoub.com/}}
- {{discogs artist|Gabriel Yacoub}}
- {{imdb name|8470510}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yacoub, Gabriel}}
Category:20th-century French musicians