Théo Sarapo
Théophanis Lamboukas, professionally known as Théo Sarapo, was a French singer and actor. He started his career as a hairstylist and was influenced by Édith Piaf, whom he married a year before her death in 1962, to become a singer.
Early life and career
Sarapo was born in Paris to Greek parents. He scored a hit with Édith Piaf in 1962 with the song "À quoi ça sert l'amour ?" and solo hits with "La maison qui ne chante plus", and "Ce jour viendra" ; its English-language version, "Our Day Will Come", was notably covered by Ruby & the Romantics and others.When he began singing with Piaf, Sarapo's voice was rather nasal, but over the next few years his tone mellowed. His other hits included "La Ronde" and "Nous n'étions pas pareils".
As an actor, Sarapo's best- known film was Judex, directed by Georges Franju, which was being filmed at the time of Piaf's death.
Relationship with Piaf
Sarapo was the second husband of Édith Piaf, and was twenty years her junior. Formerly a hairdresser, he was introduced to her by Claude Figus, Piaf's secretary. He married Piaf at the age of 26 in an Orthodox ceremony.He often recorded and performed in concert with Piaf during their brief marriage, which ended with her death in 1963. His stage name Sarapo is a French approximation of the Greek for "I love you", and was chosen by Piaf herself. Sarapo was the last in a long line of Piaf discoveries.
Upon Piaf's death, French law transferred her seven million francs' worth of debts directly to Sarapo. This led to his eviction on Christmas Day 1963 from the apartment they shared on Boulevard Lannes.