There are numerous examples of African-American artists who were, and are, very successful in France. For example, Josephine Baker in the 20s, Richard Wright in the 40s and James Baldwin in the 50s. Yet for some, their accomplishments remain unknown and often uncelebrated in their native country. Such was the case of my sister, Carole Denise Fredericks. I didn’t experience the full impact of Carole’s prominence and popularity in the French music industry until her untimely death in 2001.
Carole had already lived in Paris for 22 years. She was a successful singer, but her contribution to French chanson was lost on me. As the point-person for our family, I was charged with the task of making the arrangements to retrieve Carole’s body from Dakar, Senegal, West Africa where she died, the victim of a massive heart attack two days after her 49th birthday. My four brothers wanted her buried near our parents in our hometown, Springfield, MA. I was coordinating the funeral arrangements from my home in upstate New York. It was a logistical nightmare given the time zones, language barrier, cultural differences, and siblings scattered around the globe. My phone was ringing non-stop. Conflict was in the air.
Carole’s friends and colleagues asked that she be buried in Paris. We heard requests from the French Ministry of Culture that she find her eternal rest in France. “She is ours, notre Carole,” they said. “Her career was in France and here is where she should stay.”
My brothers and I discussed the options and then made the difficult decision to honor these heartfelt requests from France. My husband and I flew to Paris first, and the rest of the family arrived the day before funeral. On June 18, 2001, we gathered for a service in L’Eglise Notre-Dame de Clignancourt. A crowd awaited us as we exited the church. Cameras snapped and strangers pressed cards and flowers into my hands with whispers of “bon courage”. The funeral motorcade, led by Jean-Jacques Goldman and Michael Jones on motorcycles, wound its way through the 18th arrondissement until we arrived at Cimetière de Montmartre. And, there we lay to rest our youngest sister.
Days later, in her apartment, I read through legal documents and did my best to bring order to the place she had purchased and called home for 10 years. At every turn, I uncovered evidence that Carole was a celebrity. In fact, she was music royalty in France. A beloved artist, humanitarian and actress, Carole had been a thoughtful contributor to popular French chanson. Here, in her apartment, waiting to be discovered, was tangible proof of her amazing stardom and unheralded success in France.
In 1979, 27-year old Carol Fredericks left the United States for Paris to pursue a singing career. At the time she did not speak a word of French. Although Carole left her mother country, she never left her roots. Carole was steeped in the fertile music traditions of our parents, striving professionals from the Carolinas and the West Indies.
By the late 1980s, Carole had emerged as a powerful singer who wove the passionate threads of blues, gospel and R&B into a uniquely French tapestry. She began as a background singer. A dazzling array of French stars hired her for session work and concerts: Serge Gainsbourg, Michel Berger, France Gall, Johnny Hallyday, Mylène Farmer, Hubert-Félix Thiéfaine, Patricia Kaas, Mireille Mathieu, Florent Pagny, and Véronique Sanson.
In 1990, Carole joined premiere independent recording artist Jean-Jacques Goldman and lead guitarist Michael Jones to form the phenomenally successful trio, Fredericks Goldman Jones. Their collaboration resulted in two studio and two live albums, and millions of albums sold in the francophone world. For six years, Fredericks Goldman Jones dominated the top spots on the music charts and performed before sold-out audiences throughout Europe, Africa, Asia and Japan. In 1995, Jean-Jacques wrote and produced the album D’EUX for Canadian singer Céline Dion.
Carole, along with Yvonne Jones and Beckie Bell, returned to the studio to supply background vocals for D’EUX, which became the all-time best-selling French language album ever! The next year, Fredericks Goldman Jones chose to amicably split up to allow each artist time to pursue solo projects. Carole, Jean-Jacques and Michael remained close friends and continued to work on each other’s albums. Carole released two highly successful solo albums: the gospel and blues inspire, SPRINGFIELD (1996), and the all French language rap, soul and R&B disc COULEURS ET PARFUMS (1998).
I left Paris with two suitcases heavy with treasures from Carole’s apartment. Back in the States, I organized a memorial celebration at our local church for friends and family members who couldn’t attend the funeral in Paris. After the service, tables of books, magazines and newspaper articles were displayed at the reception. Photos, gold, platinum and diamond selling albums were hung, and a video playback unit was set up for viewing music videos. A woman tapped me on the shoulder and introduced herself. “My name is Nancy Gadbois”, she said. “I stopped by today to offer my condolences to you and your family”. I thanked her and explained that I didn’t speak nor did I read French and that I was at a loss to find someone who could translate the articles.
“I speak French,” Nancy said, “And would be happy to help out. I am a French teacher at the local high school,” she continued, “And I want you to know that I have been using your sister’s music to teach French in my classes for the past 10 years.”
Tears welled up in my eyes. We hugged and exchanged telephone numbers promising to be in touch soon.
By 2003, I had secured the rights from JRG Editions Musicals and Sony Music France to use the lyrics, songs and six music videos for educational purposes. Single-handedly, Nancy had transformed the selected music videos into cohesive lessons with activities and vocabulary lists. An appropriate title for the collection still eluded us. I called Barbara Summers, a lifelong friend, former Ford fashion model and author who had lived in Paris for some time for help. Barbara suggested “Tant Qu’Elle Chante, Elle Vit” (as long as she sings she lives). Nancy and I agreed.
“Tant Qu’elle Chante, Elle Vit” highlighted the use of dynamic performance videos in conjunction with lyrics, workbooks and the Internet to engage students. We added a subtitle: “Apprendre le français grâce à l’héritage de Carole Fredericks (Learn French through the legacy of Carole Fredericks)”, which defined our goal to teach students not only how to speak French, but also how to envision and communicate with a wider world. “Tant Qu’Elle Chante, Elle Vit” was published by CDF Music Legacy in cooperation with the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) and introduced later to educators at the AATF National Convention in Martinique.
Today, our innovative language lessons are used by K-12 French teachers, colleges and university professors across the United States and Canada, including l’Alliance Française de Washington, DC, the American School in Singapore and Korea University. The Carole D. Fredericks Foundation currently publishes the lessons in an Activity Book and has added two new titles: “Couleurs et Parfums” (CD and Activity Book), and “An Interview with Carole Fredericks” (DVD and Transcript). In 2011, “Tant Qu’Elle Chante, Elle Vit” (DVD and Activity Book) was completely revised by master teachers Nancy Gadbois and Anne Jensen.
My life has changed immeasurably. I spend much of the year traveling the country presenting workshops about my late sister and her extraordinary life in France. Paris has become my second home, and each year my husband and I visit for three months at a time. Carole’s legacy continues to touch the hearts of so many people, students are learning French through her music, and I am thrilled to be a part of her journey.
“Tant Qu’Elle Chante, Elle Vit” is a collection of lessons contributed by two master teachers, Nancy Gadbois and Anne Jensen. Each lesson is designed to engage students at their level of interest and keep them interested in every class. The 30-minute DVD contains eight authentic contemporary music videos (À nos actes manqués, Un, deux, trois, Né en 17 à Leidenstadt, Respire, Qu’est-ce qui t’amène, Le prix à payer, Peurs and Personne ne saurait). The accompanying activity book includes lessons and activities that use the video’s subject, storyline and song lyrics to teach language skills such as grammar, sentence structure, vocabulary, pronunciation and more. Questions about the video (actual and analytical) promote discussion and expose students to cultural nuances.
CLICK HERE to read more about “Tant Qu’Elle Chante, Elle Vit” and to view excerpts of the music videos.
I really enjoyed this article,I actually cried.as a Frenchman I grew up listening to her music (Goldman/Fredericks/Jones).I was surprised to read that you weren’t aware how famous/respected..she was in France and the french speaking world.having said that,it also speaks volumes of her modesty/humbleness.lastly, I’d would like to thank you for allowing her to rest in peace in France where she was/is loved and respected.good luck with your project.
Hi Connie! I am sending this wonderful article to a therapist who is working with Gregory Lyons who first brought your sister to France . He took great pride in showing her off to those he knew would embrace her fully and without restraint. I know of you through Rose and was very very fortunate to know Carole and to sing backup with her on one of Taj’s albums. It was a highlight of my singing career which ended last December after 44 years with the San Francisco Opera.
Hello Claudia,
Nancy Ing Duclose sent me your comment which I got today. Thank you so much. It is very special to reconnect with people who knew Carole as a young artist. I knew you were a friend of Gregory’s and was aware of the connection – Gregory, Carole and you – Paris. So very thoughtful of you to share the story with Gregory. I spoke with him a year or two ago as Alexandre Fevee was putting together Fredericks Golsman Jones De I’interieur, a coffeetable book about the trio. I hoped Gregory was interviewed for the book his copy arrived. Would love to connect with you in real time via phone. Here is my email: [email protected]. Will share your name with Taj as well. Thank you for reaching out.
BRAVO pour tout ! Et merci !
Michel BOIRON, CAVILAM – Alliance françaaise, Vichy France
Bravo pour tout !
Michel Boiron, CAVILAM – Alliance française, Vichy France.
So awesome and it brings me to tears.. Knowing Carole and you and your entire family. I hope that I can be a part of assisting you in letting those here in Springfield know how important it is to keep Carole’s legacy alive. Safe travels to you as you journey to Paris, hope to join you next year.
Dearest Connie,
I never tire of hearing about the achievements Carole made, especially because we both faced the typical social hardships that come with entering our teen age years. But, as I have said many times we had to resign ourselves to the pains of growing up. Carole was quietly destined to have a life not only commercialy successful, she never abandoned her roots nor the bumps that in her journey. She and all of you remained with me on my own journey through this life. I look at the beautiful outer and inner of her and I am filled with happiness at her successes while maintaining the same dignity and care she had for others. You have kept her gifts and contributions to life alive. Carole must surely look down with joy at the efforts you and your family have put into keeping her dedication, inspiration and caring ways to continue on. She was a rare gift and so are you. I want to thank you for your own dedication, talent and keeper of the faith to share with others. You are a woman I am glad to call a friend and you have some of the most wonderful gifts of your own. I want to acknowledge and thank you for being an inspiration, a role model that you have graced many with. You have shared and also inspired. You are someone who I am better for having knowm you. God bless you and your family.
Thank you, this is a wonderful thing to do. I have shared it with my friends who are teachers, and my former students of French in Paris.