Born Renaud Séchan in 1952 in Paris, Renaud began performing in the metro and with Romain Bouteille’s theater troupe before releasing his debut album, Amoureux de Paname, in 1975. A voice for verlan slang and popular rebellion with “Laisse béton” (1977), he became a landmark figure of French song, blending humor, tenderness and social outcry on tracks like “Hexagone,” “Mon HLM” and “Mistral gagnant.” Over nearly fifty years and 26 albums, he has sold around 20 million records while publicly battling his addictions. Still active, he marks his 50-year career with a series of concerts, vinyl reissues and a book made with his daughter Lolita Séchan.