Marc Cerrone (, ; born 24 May 1952) is a French disco drummer, composer, record producer and creator of concert shows.
1960
By the end of the 1960s, he was fascinated by Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana and Blood, Sweat & Tears, among others.
At the age of 17, he convinced Gilbert Trigano to hire rock bands for his holiday clubs: Club Med (Club Mediterranée).
Cerrone became the A&R scout for 40 Club Med vacation villages around the world.
1970
Cerrone is a producer of 1970s and 1980s disco songs.
He has sold over 30 million albums worldwide, including over four million copies in France, and eight million copies of Supernature.
1974
His first recordings as a part of Kongas were released on Barclay Records, where he issued his first hit single, "Boom", and the 1974 album Afro-Rock.
He is most famous from the Kongas days for "Anikana-O", co-written and produced by Alec R. Costandinos.
A remix was done by Tom Moulton for the US release on Salsoul Records.
This mix was also used on other international releases.
Based in Paris, Cerrone recorded, composed, and performed his solo debut Love in C Minor, again with Costandinos.
Released on his own Malligator imprint, and distributed by Warner Filipacchi in France, it immediately shocked audiences with its controversial cover.
Copies of the LP were sent to the US, apparently in error, but it was heard by New York DJs who began playing it.
Atlantic Records signed Cerrone to a contract, and the musician relocated to the U.S. The album was later released with a new, tamer cover that took the nude women off and replaced them with four arms clenched and a black background instead for the American release.
As well as "Love in C Minor", it also featured a cover version of Los Bravos's "Black Is Black" and "Midnite Lady", an instrumental piece.
Cotillion Records released the album through Warner distribution in the U.S. The album was released unedited in Canada, using the original master tapes.
This was the final collaboration between Cerrone and the Egyptian-born Costandinos, who went on to create dancefloor hits such as "I've Found Love" by Love & Kisses, and the disco opera re-telling of the story of "Romeo and Juliet".
1976
The single "Love in C Minor" (1976) reached No. 3 and was in the charts for two months, selling three million copies.
1977
With "Supernature" (1977), Cerrone merged symphonic orchestration with synthesizers.
1978
At the 1978 Billboard Disco Forum, Cerrone received six awards including Disco Artist of the Year.
In addition to Love in C Minor, Cerrone's Paradise and Supernature, Marc Cerrone enjoyed success in Europe with albums such as Cerrone IV: The Golden Touch (1978), Where Are You Now (1983), The Collector (1985), Human Nature (1994) and more recently with the dance albums Hysteria (2002) and Celebrate (2007).
Cerrone is also known for live performances.
1981
Reviewing Cerrone in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981), Robert Christgau gave it a B-plus and wrote, "Catchy tracks, a remake of 'Black Is Black,' and a new standard in disco porn—the protagonist brings three women to simultaneous orgasm while keeping one finger on the 'Door Close' button."
Cerrone continued using pieces of photographic and audio erotica when he released his second album, Cerrone's Paradise.
It was recorded with Alain Wisniak co writing and arranged by Raymond Donnez, also known as "Don Ray", as part of his arrangement entourage after parting company with Costandinos.
The original French album cover featured a naked model draped over the top of a fridge with a jar of white powder spilled in front of it.
The U.S. Atlantic/Cotillion release featured a photo of Cerrone wearing a Hawaiian shirt.
His third album, Supernature sold over eight million albums worldwide.
A departure from the lush orchestration with electronic instrumentation added to the mix, it was co-written by Alain Wisniak.
The lyrics to "Supernature", written by Lene Lovich, have a sci-fi theme: it concerns the rebellion of mutant creatures—created by scientists to end starvation among mankind—against the humans.
The album also featured "Sweet Drums", a three-minute-and-ten-second drum breakdown.
1991
In 1991 he played on the show Harmony to celebrate the launch of Japan's first high-definition TV satellite.
The rock opera was played to over 800,000 spectators at Tokyo harbour.
Cerrone adapted "Harmony" for theatre.
1992
In 1992, the musical Dreamtime which was based on an original story by Cerrone ran for 140 shows on Broadway at New York's Ed Sullivan Theater.
Cerrone has recorded and performed with Nile Rodgers, Toto, Laura Branigan, Jocelyn Brown, La Toya Jackson and Axelle Red.
His music has been sampled by artists such as the Avalanches, Bob Sinclar, the Beastie Boys and Run-DMC.
Cerrone was born in Vitry-sur-Seine to the son of Italian immigrants.
At the age of 12 he started playing drums and listening to Otis Redding songs.
Cerrone's passion for music was discouraged by his father, who tried to distract him from his obsession.
