Robert Lelièvre

Robert Lelièvre (1 October 1942 – 26 August 1973) was a French singer, songwriter and guitar player. He is best remembered as a member of the folk rock trio Cy, Maia & Robert, and for fronting the Danish progressive rock band Pan. Their eponymous debut album is considered amongst the best in the history of Danish rock music.

Biography

Early years: 1942–65 Robert Jean Francis Lelièvre was born in Le Bourg-d'Oisans, Isère, France on 1 October 1942. In January 1962, after three months of military service he deserted the French Army and fled the country. He first went to Spain, where he played the guitar in a local jazz band. After three years of traveling around Europe, he settled in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1965. Here, he met Danish singer and accordion player Maia Aarskov and English guitar player and singer Cy Nicklin, and they joined forces in the folk rock trio Cy, Maia & Robert.

Folk rock in Cy, Maia & Robert: 1965–67 Cy, Maia & Robert's first release was an album entitled On the Scene in 1966. It contained one original song (written by Lelièvre), and amongst other cover songs a version of Paul Simon's "A Church Is Burning", whom the trio met and played with during his tour around the Danish folk circuit in 1965.

Progressive rock in Pan: 1970 In October 1969, Lelièvre and High Crossfield bass player Arne Würgler formed what was to become Lélievre's most notable musical constellation: The progressive rock band Pan. Pan released their first single "In a Simple Way" / "Right Across My Bed" in January that year, followed by their eponymous titled debut album in May. At the time of its release, Pan was hailed by the Danish press, and Dagbladet Information even named it "the best Danish rock album released so far". So when the French government in 1972 issued an amnesty he went home to fulfill his dream. Despite the amnesty Lelièvre was shipped off to a French prison.

Upon his release, Lélievre returned to Denmark, where times got even more difficult. Haunted by inner demons and frustrated with the music business he took his own life on 26 August 1973 in Copenhagen. "An ignorant world lost one of the most talented songwriters of his generation", wrote Norwegian author Dag Erik Asbjørnsen 30 years later in his book Scented Gardens of Mind: A Comprehensive Guide to the Golden Era of Progressive Rock (1968–1980).

Discography

Albums On the Scene (1966) by Cy, Maia & Robert – Sonet Records (SLPS 1220) Out of Our Times (1967) by Cy, Maia & Robert – Sonet Records (SLPS 1240) Alex Campbell at the Tivoli Gardens (1967) by Alex Campbell – Storyville Records (671207) Alliance (1968) by Robert & Iain – Metronome Records (BP 7707) Pan (1970) by Pan – Sonet Records (SLPS 1518) Pan on the Air – Danish Radio Sessions 1970 (2004) by Pan – Karma Music (KMCD 28114)

Singles "A Church Is Burning" / "Take a Look Inside" (1966) by Cy, Maia & Robert – Sonet Records (T 7223) "Green Rocky Road" / "Harvest of Hate" (1966) by Cy, Maia & Robert – Sonet Records (T 7238) "Cheers Dears" / "Natural Man" (1968) by Maia & Full Limit – Metronome Records (B 1700) "Demain" / "Glass Fibre Road" (1968) by Robert & Iain – Belter Records (07-762) "Dis-toi-bien" / "J'ai vu ton visage" (1969) by Lelièvre – Marmalade Records (421 457) "In a Simple Way" / "Right Across My Bed" (1970) by Pan – Sonet Records (T 7258)