On July 7, 1979, an unknown sixteen-year-old Canadian singer, France Joli stepped onto the boards of New York’s Fire Island and performed her debut single, “Come To Me. ” She wrecked the place. Seven minutes and a couple of disco seconds later the screaming crowd of five thousand declared France Joli a star.
PRELUDE’s POP STAR “Come To Me” was the lead single off France Joll (Prelude), the self-titled first album produced by Canadian producer Tony Green. A No.1 single on pop charts worldwide, “Come To Me” was massively successful propelling France Joli onto the pages of Billboard, US, People, GQ, Interview, and Variety as well as into the studios of currently hot shows like Solid Gold, The Merv Griffin Show, Dinah Shore, The Midnight Special, The Juno Awards (Canadian “Grammy Awards”) and The Bob Hope Special. She performed at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall, and toured Europe, Japan, Mexico, and South America. France Joli was the only artist on the legendary Prelude label to have a crossover pop (No.~U) Billboard hit.
TONIGHT Similar success followed with the release of her second album Tonight (Prelude) also produced by Tony Green which flew the classic hits “The Heart To Break The Heart” and “Feel Like Dancing. ”
THREE MORE ALBUMS In 1981 Tony Green and France Joli parted ways. France took time to develop her songwriting abilities before going on to make three more albums. The first of these produced the hit song “Gonna Get Over You”. The second and third, produced by Giorgio Moroder and George Duke respectively, were released on Epic and featured songs written by France Joli.
TOKYO CALLING In 1984 France Joli won international recognition by walking away with both major awards at the Yamaha World Popular Song Festival in Tokyo: The Grand Prize Award and The Most Outstanding Performance Award. In 1985 she was invited back to Japan as a special guest star at the World Song Pop Festival and to tour with George Duke to promote her just-released album Witch Of Love.
BACK TOGETHER AGAIN Reunited, France Joli and Tony Green are preparing material for her new album which Popular hopes to release in the fall of 1997.
TOUCH The first single, “Touch, ” was produced and mixed by Tony Green and remixed by New York City’s Darrin Friedman. “Touch” marked a dramatic re-entry into the pop/dance arena for this talented singer by becoming the No. I record for two months at New York’s most revered club-Junior Vasquez’Arena. Vasquez, a die-hard France Joli fan was so taken by “Touch” that he not only booked her at his club but remixed her follow-up single, “Breakaway, “Touch” received great club play nationwide: (Billboard Hot Dance Music ClubPlay Chart #24, EPRO (the national record pool chart and most accurate measure of real club play) #9, DMA #4, DMA HINRG #1). and has neatly laid the groundwork for “Breakaway. ‘
BREAKAWAY Out July 1997 is France Joli’s second single “Breakaway” Fully contemporary in sound, the single was again produced by Tony Green and remixed by Junior Vasquez, The Boomerang Boys, Giuseppe D., and Tony Green. An additional set of mixes will follow by Eddie Baez and Andy & The Lamboy and will include a special bonus track “Touch: The Junior Vasquez Remix.” We at Popular expect no less a reaction worldwide than the one France Joli received that first night on Fire Island 17 years ago.
FAME
France Joli and Tony Green are both 1996 inductees to the Canadian Dance Hall Of Fame.
FRANCE JOLI “INTERVIEW LITE”:
The Basics
Full Name? France Joli
Place of birth? Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Where have you lived? Montreal (all my life)
Starsign? Aquarius
The Questions Who would be the first person you invite to your birthday party? Met Gibson And who would be the last person you invite? Robyn Gibson Do you have a favorite saying? Again, “Life’s tough, get a helmet” What is your favorite record of the moment? “Chains” by Tina Arena And your favorite record of all time? Funny Girl soundtrack by Barbra Streisand Who would your most like to work with musically? Quincy Jones What are you reading at the moment? Why Me, Why This, Why Now Do you have a favorite book or author? Kane & Able by Jefferey Archer Favorite film? E.T. Favorite actor? At Pacino What was the last movie that made you cry? The Bridges of Madison County Favorite food/drink? Potatoes, Coca-Cola What about the most desirable date? Jason Patric, Who’s your favorite TV personality? Oprah Winfrey, What’s your favorite item of clothing? Sweatpants & sweatshirts Favorite designer? Versace Your nominee for the world’s best-dressed person? Tarzan, What has been the most embarrassing moment? Finding myself flat on my face after falling down a flight of stairs at a wedding Do you have a favorite method of relaxation? Meditation What’s your favorite term for endearment? “Pounne” (French for “doll”), “Bin” (family term)
FRANCE JOLI answers THE VANITY FAIR “PROUST QUESTIONNAIRE”:
What is your idea of perfect happiness? Serenity Which historical figure do you most identify with? Alexander Graham Bell Which living person do you most admire? Barbra Streisand, What is the trait that you most deplore in yourself? Being opinionated What is your favorite occupation? Film directing What is your most marked characteristic? Widow’s peak Which talent would you like to have? Figure skating What or who is the greatest love of your life? The universe If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? To be taller If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be? To be the youngest What is your favorite hero of fiction? Superman, Who are your heroes in real life? Friends, who endure me What is your most treasured possession? My scrapbook What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Homelessness What is the quality you most like in a man? The ability to communicate effectively What is the quality you most like in a woman? Self-contentedness What are your favorite names? Kalina, Maya What do you consider your greatest achievement? My spiritual evolvement What is your greatest fear? Questionnaires What is your greatest regret? Answering questionnaires If you were to die and come back as a person or living thing, what do you think it would be? A politician If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be? Anything but a politician How would you like to die? Healthy What is your motto? Life’s tough, get a helmet!
