On Wednesday July 31, around 150 people, including friends from the “profession”, were present at the funeral of Pascal Danel, the famous singer of the hit “Les Neiges du Kilimandjaro”.
It was in front of a large gathering, composed of close friends, friends of the profession, among whom the singers Laurent Voulzy, Herbert Léonard, Bernard Sauvat, Gérard Layani, or the lyricist Claude Lemesle, and admirers from all over France that the burial ceremony of Pascal Danel took place, on Wednesday July 31, in Bazoches-sur-le-Betz, in the Loiret, the department where he lived as well as his son Jean-Pierre.
“I felt like I was part of the family,” says Laurent Voulzy, guitarist and conductor of Pascal Danel’s orchestra.
Known throughout the world thanks to his hit THE Snows of Kilimanjaroor The beach for romantics or even for Metersthe singer-songwriter died in his sleep during the night of July 24-25 of cardiac arrest.
Music in the family
“When I was little, my father was often on tour, but he never missed a Christmas. I went on tour with him during the holidays. I saw many artists every day: Salvatore Adamo, Michel Polnareff, Jacques Dutronc, Carlos. When he was on TV, he would say to me: ‘Look carefully, at such and such a moment in the song, I’m going to wink at you’. And he did it!” recalls Jean-Pierre Danel, talking about his father.
Around 150 people attended Pascal Danel’s funeral on Wednesday, July 31.
The ceremony took place in the small town with serenity and the assembly appreciated these few anecdotes about the singer. Many people approached the coffin to pay him a final tribute.
Death of singer Pascal Danel, performer of “Les Neiges du Kilimandjaro”: “Dad had lots of plans”, says his son Jean-Pierre
“I taught myself the guitar, then he accompanied me. At 14, I was on stage with him, then I was his musical director and I produced his records. In 1989, we went gold with one of his songs. Then, we did three duets on my records, and then a trio, with Philippine (his granddaughter). Invited on TV, Drucker was moved to welcome three generations of Danels”, relates Jean-Pierre Danel with simplicity and great sincerity in front of the audience. Music, a real family story for Pascal Danel, who had recently given a concert in Ferrières-en-Gâtinais in 2023.
Tributes from the world of music
Claude Lemesle, the famous songwriter from the 1960s to the 1980s, from Joe Dassin to Serge Reggiani, then spoke to his late friend. They had written together in the early 2000s Fucking staran autobiographical song, which the lyricist recited from memory at the funeral: “This kid who has a festive name and a humble hamlet name. Tell me if it’s possible to cure being lacking parents? You’ve been a gold record, you have to pay the ransom. And challenge other Kilimanjaros.”
Pascal Danel found the music instantly when he heard these words, “this song sealed our friendship and lit up my life”, confided Claude Lemesle with emotion.
A final tribute will be paid to the singer Pascal Danel in Loiret
Then it was Laurent Voulzy, who was his arranger and conductor, who wanted to testify:
“Pascal meant a lot to me. I felt like I was part of the family. I knew Jean-Pierre Danel when I was little. Pascal was a tireless worker, always looking for new tunes. He was even my best man at my wedding. He gave me courage.”
Many people paid their last respects to the singer, approaching his coffin.
In an aside, his ex-wife, Margit Danel, mother of Jean-Pierre Danel, confided: “He had a great sense of humor, he told jokes all the time, except when he was angry with his job. I saw him three hours after his operation. He told me: ‘Everything is fine, I’m leaving tomorrow.'”
Valère Perlot, with correspondent
