About Pierre Rapsat
Pierre Rapsat (born Pierre Raepsaet, 28 May 1948 – 20 April 2002) was a Belgian singer-songwriter who had a very successful career in his homeland and also spells of popularity in other Francophone countries. Outside these areas, he is best known for his participation in the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest. == Early life and career == Rapsat was born in the Ixelles municipality of Brussels to a Flemish father and a mother of Asturian descent. His father spent two years in the Dachau concentration camp, and his mother fled her country during the civil war. When Rapsat was 10 years old the family moved to Verviers, which remained his home for the rest of his life. Pierre Rapsat began writing songs at the age of 13, influenced by British pop music, including The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, as well as French chanson, particularly the works of Léo Ferré and Georges Brassens. He also acquired his first guitar at that age. By 18, he had decided to pursue a career in music, focusing on songwriting and composition. In the early stages of his career, Rapsat performed with various dance orchestras and musical groups. In 1970, he founded his first band, Laurélie, which released one album before disbanding.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.