Daniel Vangarde | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Daniel Bangalter |
| Born | 1947 (age 77–78) Paris,France |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 1969–1990s |
| Labels | Zagora |
| Spouse | Thérèse Thoreux (died 2001) |
| Children | Thomas |
Daniel Bangalter (French pronunciation:[danjɛlbɑ̃ɡaltɛʁ], born 1947), known in his musical career asDaniel Vangarde, is a French former producer, lyricist and songwriter who co-wrote and produced several hit records in the 1970s and 1980s, including "Aie a Mwana" withJean Kluger, "D.I.S.C.O." byOttawan, and "Cuba" by theGibson Brothers. The father ofThomas Bangalter, best known as a member of the electronic music duoDaft Punk, he is credited with aiding the duo in their early musical career.
In 1971, Vangarde and Kluger created the dance song "Yamasuki" under the name the Yamasuki Singers, which led to the production of the albumLe Monde Fabuleux Des Yamasuki. The album featured the song "Aieaoa", later popularized as "Aie a Mwana" by Black Blood andBananarama. In 1975, Vangarde founded the record label Zagora, and following theDisco Demolition Night in 1979, he co-wrote the hit "D.I.S.C.O." for the group Ottawan. Over the years, Vangarde produced numerous tracks and albums, often under various aliases.
In the 1990s, Vangarde became involved in disputes over the restitution of royalties to Jewish composers affected during theNazi occupation of France. After retiring from music, he moved toBrazil, where he engaged in local business ventures. In 2022, Vangarde released a compilation album of his work titledThe Vaults of Zagora Records Mastermind (1971-1984) throughBecause Music.
Daniel Bangalter was born in 1947 inParis to a doctor and a housewife.[1][2] As a child, he was exposed to classical music, with his family listening to records of composers such asJohann Sebastian Bach,Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,Ludwig van Beethoven, orFrédéric Chopin for an hour every night. His father's work as a doctor in theaters allowed Bangalter to attend concerts with him.[3]
As a teenager, Bangalter became heavily inspired bythe Beatles, particularlyPaul McCartney. His brother lived inBrighton, England, allowing them to get Beatles records before they were widely available in France. Bangalter once wrote a letter to the band suggesting they let him join, though he ultimately did not send it.[4][5] Before turning 18, he had traveled to various countries, including spending some time inMexico.[3] He decided to pursue a career in songwriting and chose a different professional surname because he did not want to be recognized. Originally, he wanted to use the surname "Morane" after theMorane-Saulnier planes, but when registering withSACEM, he found it had already been taken. Instead, he chose the name "Vangarde" after theVickers Vanguard.[6]
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While traveling, Vangarde stayed in theNetherlands, where he performed at a club. He was noticed by a woman who advised him to contact her father, a record company boss. A demo recording reached Belgian producerJean Kluger, who believed he could replicate the success ofMichel Polnareff with Vangarde.[7] However, Vangarde did not see himself in the spotlight and instead began writing songs with Kluger. Vangarde's first success came from choreographing a dance for the song "Casatschok," produced by Kluger for Dimitri Dourakine.[6][8]
In 1971, along with Kluger, Vangarde created the dance song "Yamasuki" under the name the Yamasuki Singers. Due to its positive reception, they decided to produce the albumLe Monde Fabuleux Des Yamasuki, a pseudo-Japanese concept album of pop songs.[8][9] The song "Aieaoa" from the album was later recorded as "Aie a Mwana", first by Black Blood and then byBananarama, becoming the first UK hit for the latter group.[4]
In 1975, Vangarde launched the record label Zagora in order to be independent when producing his music. He recorded his debut album,Daniel Vangarde, featuring lyrics centered on protest themes.[3] The lead single, "Un bombardier avec ses bombes", criticized France's involvement in the international arms trade and resulted in his ban from French radio.[4][10] In 1976, Vangarde crossed paths with Martinican brothers Chris, Alex, and Patrick Francfort, who formed the Gibson Brothers, and wrote the song "Come to America" for them. Two years later, Vangarde wrote "Cuba", which would earn the group fourteen gold records.[3]
After theDisco Demolition Night on 12 July 1979, Vangarde wrote the song "D.I.S.C.O." as a response, viewing that night as "racist" and "homophobic".[11] He aimed to convey that disco had not died on that night. He and Jean Kluger helped create the groupOttawan with Patrick Jean-Baptiste and Annette Eltice, with the single reaching number two in theUK Singles Chart the following year.[12] Vangarde also produced the albumBlogodo for the bandLa Compagnie Créole, who he found while travelling to theWest Indies. He persuaded the band to record the song "C'est bon pour le moral," but it initially struggled to gain popularity. Vangarde recounted that a radio station program director had dismissed the track, describing it as "ballroom music".[13] While collaborating with artists for song productions, Vangarde also produced songs under the aliases of Starbow and Who's Who.[11]
In the 1990s, Vangarde was involved in disputes over the issue of Jewish composers and their intellectual property rights during theNazi occupation of France.[14] He accused SACEM of withholding funds from these Jewish musicians after thenation's liberation, which they denied asserting that they had paid what was owed.[15][16] In response to the controversy, the French government established the Matteoli Commission to investigate the claims.[17] The commission found no mishandlings and cleared SACEM of misappropriating royalties.[18] With the dispute and Thomas's work with Daft Punk being released, Vangarde decided to retire. In a 2022 interview withNME, he said, "I was doing dance music, and when I heard Daft Punk, I said: 'No, it's a new generation coming. I cannot compete with this music.'"[5]
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After his retirement, Vangarde moved to Caraíva,Bahia,Brazil. There, he opened various businesses, including a pizzeria, an inn, and a store. He also became one of the founders of thenon-governmental organization CaraivaViva, a community charity which provides education through the arts for children.[19] On 23 August 2021, Vangarde's factory of artisanal beauty products was closed by the Sanitary Surveillance of Porto Seguro. The items lacked information about the chemicals used and did not provide usage guidance. Additionally, the interior space of the store, where the products were manufactured, did not meet sanitary legislation requirements.[19][20]
In October 2022, Vangarde was approached by the labelBecause Music to compile an album featuring songs from Zagora Records.[4] In early November 2022, Vangarde announced the release of the compilation albumThe Vaults of Zagora Records Mastermind (1971-1984).[21] The album featured a catalog of Vangarde's work, including his collaborations with various artists and groups.[22] The album was released on 25 November 2022 by on streaming platforms, double vinyl LP, and CD.[23][24]
Vangarde has been praised for his approach to production and songwriting. His production on "Cuba" was described by theLos Angeles Times as a "thatched roof-of-sound production", calling the song "dance music at its most intelligent and irresistible".[25] French producerBertrand Burgalat described Vangarde as "one of the most singular personalities of his time" for his work in disco music production.[3] In 2013, musician CK303 made a DJ mix of Vangarde's work for the magazineDazed, noting his "incorporation of world music influences into disco/pop records was quite novel".[26]
Songs by Vangarde for the Yamasuki Singers have been featured in various forms of media.The Guardian described their album as "a mad, cartoonish blend of different musical cultures that also attempted to provoke what would now be called a 'dance challenge.'"[4] In 2007, singerErykah Badu sampled the Yamasuki Singers' song "Kono Samurai" in her track "The Healer" from the albumNew Amerykah Part One (4th World War).[27] Their music has also appeared in the DJ mix albumLate Night Tales: Matt Helders by theArctic Monkeys and in thesecond season of theFX seriesFargo.[5]
Vangarde isFrench Jewish.[28] He married Thérèse Thoreux, a ballet dancer who later became a mosaic artist, who had been introduced to him by Vangarde's sister. They had one son,Thomas Bangalter, in 1975; Thoreux died in 2001.[29] Initially, Thomas was more interested in film and classical dance than music, but Thoreux had him learn piano from the ages of six to twelve. He rarely visited Vangarde's studios, with Vangarde commenting, "If he had been into music, Daft Punk would not have existed. He would have been in the studio with me and he would have learned how to produce music and how to do music the normal way."[8][30] He bought equipment for Thomas's 18th birthday, including aRoland Juno-106 synthesizer and anAkai S01 sampler.[31] Thomas credited Vangarde with showing him how the record industry worked and helping Daft Punk in the early stages of their career.[32][33] Vangarde was acknowledged in the liner notes of Daft Punk's albumHomework for providing "precious advice" and inDiscovery for concept and art direction.[5]
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