Johnny Stark (29 August 1922 -24 April 1989) was a French "imprésario" (A&R executive) and producer, one of the most dynamic in show business in France. He is perhaps best known for working with Édith Piaf and representing Mireille Mathieu from the 1960s until his death in 1989, making her into an international star.
He was born in Huningue, the son of Colonel Stark, a prominent Alsatian military figure, and a Corsican mother, born Julie Chappuit. His mother died in Nice at the age of 33 years. He lived in Corsica until the age of 11, then the French Riviera, between Cagnes-sur-Mer and Antibes. He attended school in La Bocca, Cannes. His father became a horticulturist and had property in Cagnes.
In 1941, he enlisted as a volunteer in North Africa and worked with American troops. After the Second World War, he went to Hong Kong and returned to Cannes in May 1946. On August 15 of that year, he organized a "The Night of Stars" at the stage of the Hespérides, in Cannes. It featured names such as Édith Piaf, Yves Montand, Lily Fayol, Reda Caire, Marie Bizet, Johnny Hess, Marcel Cerdan, Laurent Dauthuille and Robert Charron.
Johnny Stark then organized tours with Tino Rossi, Luis Mariano, Roger Pierre and Jean-Marc Thibault, and was responsible for scouting Gloria Lasso, Dalida and Marino Marini. He established the Théâtre de Verdure (Juan-les-Pins), where in 1947 he hired Édith Piaf. Loulou Gasté asked Stark to manage Line Renaud in 1949. Line Renaud and Gasté were married December 19, 1950, attended by Stark. In the early 1960s, Johnny Hallyday, was at the forefront of the Yé-yé movement while under the guidance of Stark.[1]
In the 1960s, he worked with performers such as Michèle Torr and Mireille Mathieu, the latter of which he made into an international star between 1965 to 1989. From 1967 to 1970, Johnny Stark was also responsible for the career of singer Michel Delpech and in 1976, he organized François Valéry's tour with Johnny Mathis at more than 60 venues across France.
Stark was married twice: first to Zoe Thaddeus (divorced in 1962), second to Nicole Bertho, with whom he had a daughter, Vicenza (divorced in the 1980s). He died in Paris on 24 August 1989.
The name of Johnny Stark is related to the history of Colmar Music Festival. He was reportedly responsible for introducing the Wine Fair which in its heyday attracted some 150,000 people and the biggest names in music.