Mireille Mathieu Musician - Born July 22, 1946 in Avignon, Vaucluse, France

Nickname Mimi

Height 5' 0¼" (1.53 m)

Mini Bio (1) Mireille from the beginning, was born to be a singer. As she would say, her professional career which began on the 21st of November 1965, has up to now for almost 40 years been "a fairy tale come true". Born in Avignon and the eldest daughter from 14 children of Roger and Marcelle Mathieu, Mireille gave her first public performance when she was four years old for Midnight Mass! Her father who was a stonecutter for the cemetery possessed the voice of a tenor and had also dreamed of being a singer. As a child, Mireille saved her money from working in a factory so she could pay for singing lessons. A voice instructor named Laure Collière, accepted Mireille as a student. In her biography "Mon Credo", during a time of distress she asked "that God please create a miracle" for her to arise out of poverty. In the early '60s, French pop vocalist Johnny Hallyday's manager Johnny Stark noticed Mireille's enchanting vocalic beauty after appearing on the TV show "Jeu de la Chance" where she won 1st place. The American impressario later built Mireille into her own star after she signed a contract with him. With lots of hard work and many nights when she was only able to sleep four hours and she needed to do a concert, Mireille performed brilliantly and was on her way to success. She was quickly hailed as the next Édith Piaf and her 1965 performance run at the Paris Olympia, sparked her recording relationship with Barclay Records where her first album sold over 1 million copies in a very short time! Mireille with much stamina, forged ahead to make her career in France, Germany, the United States, Russia, and the rest of the world. In 1974, she won the German "Bambi" Music Award, which is the equivalent to the American Grammy Award.

In 1997, Mireille was nominated and given the "Chevalier de l'Ordre national du Mérite et des Arts et des Lettres" and decorated with "The Legion of Honor" for her service to the Nation of France." Of her reception by Pope John Paul II, His Holiness has said, "She is the singer of love and peace." For me, Mireille is "un cadeau d' un Dieu" as her last name literally translates.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: jk_thompson@hotmail.com

Sister of Simone Mathieu.

Was Marianne de France from 1978 to 1985. Marianne is the bust of the most beautiful woman of a decade in France and she is placed in every City Hall of France. Marianne also represents liberty and republic.

Was made Knight of the French Legion of Honor in 1999.

Sang duets with international stars such as Charles Aznavour, Barry Manilow, Paul Anka, Plácido Domingo, Elvis Presley, Patrick Duffy, Tom Jones and Dean Martin.

Has recorded about 1200 songs in 9 different languages and has released 38 studio albums to date.

Is called "Spatz von Avignon" (Sparrow of Avignon).

Has been guest of state leaders such as Queen Elizabeth II and Ronald Reagan.

When I'am recording a disk or going out on the stage, I'am agitated just the same like for the first time. I arrive at the theatre four hours before the beginning of the performance. I must get accustomed to the hall even if I know it well. The most remarkable moment is when you go out on the stage and you hear the applause of the audience!

Who is happy with his appearance? I find many drawbacks of myself. But, each time when I visit Lourdes, I receive a lesson of reconciliation. When you see ill people or invalids around, you realize that it is a sin to complain!

LOVE in capital letters is important. It is impossible to live without love. You must have the feeling of being loved. All artists need love - from the audience, friends and relatives. But true and faithful friends are exceptionally rare.