Born in Lercara-Friddi, Sicily, on June 6, 1950, Francesco Barracato, better
known as Frédéric François, enjoyed great success in the 1970s with his
Italian-flavored variety songs. Born into a modest family, he grew up in
Belgium, where his parents emigrated. His musical itinerary began with guitar
training in several rock bands, before he was signed in 1969 by the Belgian
subsidiary of the Barclay label. After several singles that failed to chart, he
found favor with a mostly female audience with "I Love You, je t'aime" (1971),
quickly followed by "Je voudrais dormir près de toi...