Eddie Barclay

Barclay’s club in occupied WWll Paris was where friends like Vian and Reinhardt could go and listen to forbidden American jazz (he was a great fan of Reinhardt’s, who dedicated a composition to him.) Aznavour had been a friend for years before they collaborated on song-writing and made records that established Aznavour’s career. Vian edited a magazine Barclay started, and sometimes played in his band. Jones worked for him as artistic director. Both Brel and Gréco left another label for the sake of joining Barclay (he had to release Johnny Hallyday, one of his roster of popular artists, in exchange).