François Vermeille

François Vermeille, better known as Onésime Grosbois, was a renowned French jazz and variety singer and pianist who made a name for himself in the French music scene in the mid-20th century. Born in 1927, Grosbois began his musical career at a young age, starting out as a self-taught pianist before branching out into singing and performing.

Grosbois gained widespread recognition in 1949 when he played alongside legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt and a talented ensemble of musicians that included André Ekyan, Christian Garros, and Jean Bouchety. Together, they recorded several classic jazz tracks, including “Nuages,” “Manoir de mes rêves,” and “Place de Brouckere,” which helped cement Grosbois’ reputation as one of the leading jazz performers of his time.

Over the course of his career, Grosbois released a number of albums and singles that showcased his versatility as a musician and his love of jazz, blues, and other genres. Some of his most popular recordings include “Blue Skies,” “La mer,” and “Les Feuilles Mortes,” which have become jazz standards in their own right.

He passed away in 1964 when he was just 37 years old.