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Christophe Maé

French singer-songwriter Christophe Maé was born in Carpentras, France on 16th October 1975. At the age of six he learned to play the violin. At 16 a disease left him temporarily paralysed, and this inspired him to take up the guitar and the harmonica, and become a professional musician. Maé's father is also a renowned jazz singer, and Christophe's music, drawing from reggae, folk, soul and the blues, is also clearly influenced by his father's jazz roots. Other artists that have impacted on his work include Bob Marley, Tracy Chapman, Jack Johnson, and French singer-songwriters Francis Cabrel and Gerald De Palmas.

Maé's first album, Sa Danse Donne was released in 2002. In 2004 Maé opened for the British soul artist Seal and famous American pop singer/actress Cher at the Zénith de Paris. His first studio album, entitled Mon Paradis, was released in 2007 and became France's second best-selling album of that year. It includes the hit singles On s'attache, Parce qu'on sait jamais and Ça fait mal. Despite his more complex musical roots, Maé's sound has a distinctly catchy pop aesthetic. It is this accessibility which attracts fans from countries such as Belgium, Switzerland and America, of both French and non-French speaking persuasion. A 'jack of all trades', Maé also plays the role of Monsieur in the French musical Le Roi Soleil.