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Chantal Curtis
Chantal Curtis with Pierre Jaubert
Background information
Birth name	Chantal Sitruk
Also known as	Chantal Alexandre, Julie Sitruk, Brenda Mitchell, Michele
Born	Tunisia
Died	1985 Israel
Genres	Rock, disco
Occupation	Singer
Years active	1970s–1985
Formerly of	Synthesis Lafayette Afro Rock Band André Ceccarelli

Chantal Curtis (born Chantal Sitruk) was a Tunisian-born French singer who had a disco hit in 1979 with "Get Another Love". She had some earlier recordings released under a different name. She died in Israel in 1985 having been hit by a bullet that was intended for her boyfriend. During her short career she had worked with Pierre Jaubert and Vladimir Cosma.

Background

Curtis was born in Tunisia.

Career

While walking through the streets of Paris in the 1970s and talking to another woman, she was overheard by producer Pierre Jaubert. Liking the sound of her voice, he asked her if she could sing. Wanting to work, she accepted the offer.

In the June 2, 1979, edition of Cashbox, two of her songs were programmers picks in the "Can't Miss" category. "Hey Taxi Driver" was a pick by Leon Wagner from Madison, and "Get Another Love" was picked by Chuck Parsons of Baltimore. "Get Another Love" was released on Keylock Records and that release was remixed by Glen Blacks. In July 1979, "Get Another Love" spent three weeks in the British charts, peaking at No. 51. It was also a disco hit that month on the Dallas / Houston disco chart at No. 11, just behind the Gibson Brothers' "Cuba" at No. 10. Also, the July 14 issue of Record World reported it as being on the Discothèque Hit Parade at The Ritz in Houston. The song was recorded years later by Karla Brown.

Her album was produced by Pierre Jaubert, who also used the Lafayette Afro Rock Band as backing musicians.

Session work

Curtis also did session work, backing other artists on their recordings. Along with Carol Rowley, Maryse Cremieux, and The Zulu Gang, she provided backing vocals for Pasteur Lappe on his album, Na Real Sekele Fo Ya, which was released on Disques Esperance in 1979. Also that year she provided backing vocals for an album by Kassav', Love And Ka Dance. She contributed backing vocals to the In Need Of ... album by Beckie Bell which was released on the Trema label in 1980. With Carole Rowley, she also provided vocals for the F.M. Band on their self-titled album which was also released in 1980 on the FM Productions label.

Different aliases

In 1973, a single called "Juste Un Petit Peu De Soleil / Rien N'a Changé" was released under the name Chantal Alexandre.

In 1977, Chantal recorded an album entitled Magic Love, released in the US on West End Records. The album contained four songs: "Can't You Feel It" and "Magic Love" on the A-side, and "Hold Me, Squeeze Me" and "Disco Dance" on the B-side. The album was produced by Pierre Jaubert and Tom Moulton.

"Disco Dance" was a hit in the U.S. and was released as a single there, on West End Records.

For the album covers and the television appearances, Sitruk was replaced by a female named Michele; some say it was commercial, her being "more attractive". A video of Michele singing "Magic Love" on French TV channel "Melody Variétés" can be found on YouTube.

In 1978, Curtis recorded an album entitled Don't You Know on the Barclay label. "Body Party" was released as a single, with "Honey Child" as the B-side.

The same year, Chantal released another single "Un Païs Tropical / Mystic Love" , under the name Julie Sitruk.

Death

Curtis died in Israel in 1985. She fell victim to an assassination attempt on her boyfriend (but not Philippe Briche), and was hit by the bullet that was intended for him.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Appearances

References

1. ^ Funkybeat 70-80 - Chantal Sitruk dite CHANTAL CURTIS Archived 2019-07-16 at the Wayback Machine
2. ^ Funk★U, Publié le 8 août 2017 - Disparition du producteur Pierre Jaubert, Propos recueillis par Christophe Geudin. Photo d’ouverture : Michel Théodon
3. Cashbox, June 2, 1979 - Page 39 Disco, Programmers Picks
4. Cashbox, June 9, 1979 - Page 35 Disco, Disco Breaks
5. British Hit Singles and Albums, Guinness, 2005 - Page 49
6. Billboard, July 7, 1979 - Page 45 Billboard's Disco Action Dallas/Houston
7. Record World, July 14, 1979 - Page 22 Discotheque Hit Parade THE RITZ/HOUSTON
8. Billboard, January 22, 2000 - Page 42 Dance, Joey Negro Plies Nu-Disco Sound by Michael Paoletta
9. All Things Deep - Chantal Curtis
10. Boommag - Pasteur Lappe - Na Real Sekele Fo Ya Archived 2017-10-14 at the Wayback Machine
11. Popsike - KASSAV' love and ka dance RARE ORIGINIAL FM PROD AFRO DISCO LP
12. Popsike - BECKIE BELL in need of KILLER FRENCH BOOGIE LP LISTEN
13. Discogs - F.M. Band – F.M. Band
14. Michelle performing "Magic Love" on the french tv channel "Melody Variétés
15. "Brenda Mitchell - Body Party / Honey Child". Discogs. 1978.
16. Roots Vinyl Guide - Chantal Curtis "Get Another Love" Disco Boogie LP Keylock
17. 45Cat - Chantal Curtis - Discography
18. Discogs - Chantal Curtis – Fair And Square / Man To Come
19. Spotify - Livin' Together By Vladimir Cosma, Chantal Curtis
20. iTunes - Les incontournables, vol. 2 (Bandes originales de films composées par vladimir cosma)
21. Discogs - Synthesis (6) – Synthesis

External links

• "Get Another Love" live

• 1985 deaths
• 20th-century Tunisian women singers
• Deaths by firearm in Israel
• French disco singers
• French women pop singers
• French murder victims
• Tunisian murder victims
• 20th-century French women singers