Mike Brant

Mike Brant
Photo of Mike Brant at the frontage of the Beit Lessin Theater Photo of Mike Brant at the frontage of the Beit Lessin Theater
Background information
Birth name	Moshé Michaël Brand
Born	(1947-02-01)1 February 1947 Nicosia, Cyprus
Origin	Haifa, Israel
Died	25 April 1975(1975-04-25) (aged 28) Paris, France
Genres	Pop
Occupation	Singer
Instrument	Vocals
Years active	1969–1975
Labels	EMI, NMC
Website	www.mikebrant.com

Mike Brant (born Moshé Michaël Brand, Hebrew: משה ברנד) (February 1, 1947 – April 25, 1975) was an Israeli pop star who achieved fame after moving to France. His most successful hit was "Laisse-moi t'aimer" ("Let me love you"). Brant committed suicide at the height of his career by jumping from the window of a Paris apartment.

Biography

Childhood

Mike Brant's mother was Bronia Rosenberg, originally from Łódź in Poland, who was a survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp. After the war, she married Fishel Brand, a resistance fighter from Biłgoraj 20 years her senior, and they applied to emigrate to the British Mandate of Palestine, but were initially denied permission, and sent instead to a refugee camp at Famagusta on the island of Cyprus. It was in Nicosia, Cyprus that Mike was born on February 1, 1947. In September 1947, the family finally received permission to travel to Israel, and they arrived in Haifa, and settled in a kibbutz in Galilee. Mike Brant did not start speaking until 6 years of age, and very soon told his family and friends that when he grew up he'd be "a star... or a tramp!" At the age of 11 he joined his school choir.

Musical career

When he was 17, Moshe Brand joined his brother's band, "The Chocolates", as lead singer. The band started at parties and cafés in Haifa and Tel Aviv and moved on to nightclubs in hotels. Brant sang in English and in French, although he spoke only Hebrew. In 1965, he changed his name from Moshe to Mike because it sounded more international. He was discovered by the Israeli impresario Jonathan Karmon, who signed him for a tour around the United States and South Africa that lasted almost a year.

In May 1969, Brant performed at the Hilton Hotel in Tehran, Baccara. A young French singer, Sylvie Vartan, also on the bill, was impressed and urged him to come to Paris. Brant arrived on July 9, 1969. It took ten days to find Vartan but eventually she introduced him to the producer Jean Renard, who had turned Johnny Hallyday into a star. Under Renard's guidance, he changed his family name from Brand to Brant, and recorded his biggest hit, "Laisse-moi t'aimer" ("Let Me Love You"). The song was a success at the Midem music festival in January 1970. "Laisse-moi t'aimer" sold 50,000 copies in two weeks.

Success

Brant represented France in a radio contest broadcast all over Europe and in Israel. His song, sponsored by Radio Luxembourg, was "Mais dans la lumière" ("But In the Light"). He won. He continued to release hits: "Qui saura" ("Who Knows"), "L'Amour c'est ça, l'amour c'est toi" (written by Paul Korda/Robert Talar), "C’est ma prière" ("That's My Prayer"), "Un grand bonheur" ("A Great Joy") and "Parce que je t'aime plus que moi" ("Because I Love You More Than Myself"). His first album, "Disque d'Or" ("Gold Record") sold millions. Brant took a song written and composed by his friend Mike Tchaban/Tashban "Why do I love you? Why do I need you?" but French radio stations would not air it because it was in English. Brant returned home.

In February 1971, Brant was injured in a road accident. Although he suffered minor injuries. That year, he gave concerts in Israel. During the Yom Kippur War in 1973, he performed in Israel for front-line soldiers.

Suicide attempts and death

By 1973, he was giving 250 concerts a year, some attended by 6,000–10,000 people. This went on for two years. He suffered from depression and loneliness, and from the second generation syndrome(family history during the holocaust). On November 22, 1974, he attempted suicide, jumping out the window of his manager's hotel room in Geneva. He suffered fractures but survived. He cut the number of performances and concentrated on another album, Dis-lui ("Tell Her", French version of "Feeling").

On April 25, 1975, the day his new album was released, Brant leapt to his death from an apartment located at 6 Rue Erlanger in Paris. He was 28.

Mike Brant was buried in Haifa.

Documentary

A documentary Laisse-moi t'aimer: Dmaot Shel Malachim (Tears of Angels) was released in April 1998. It was a French-Israeli co-production.

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

• 1972: Disque d'Or
• 1975: Dis-lui

Compilation albums

• 2002: L'essentiel
• 2012: Éternel
• 2013: Les plus grandes chansons

Singles

• "Laisse-moi t'aimer"
• "Mais dans la lumière"
• "Qui saura"
• "L'Amour c'est ça, l'amour c'est toi"
• "C'est ma priere"
• "Un grand bonheur"
• "Parce que je t'aime plus que moi"

External links

• Mike Brant's official website