The Artist
Biography
Composer, performer, producer. Visionary, innovator, cultural ambassador.
Jean-Michel Jarre has always been a futurist in his field. Throughout his illustrious career, the composer, performer, producer and cultural ambassador has continued to break new ground with his music and his mastery of creative innovation. From his early pioneering role in electronic music and his use of multi-channel audio technology, to his recent explorations into VR performance and the metaverse, technology is at the forefront of everything he does.
He is UNESCO ambassador for education, science and culture, an unconditional defender of the planet and the environment, and Laureate of the Stephen Hawking Medal for scientific communication.
Jarre's catalog, which now includes 22 studio albums, has generated sales of more than 85 million worldwide to date. He has taken some of the most iconic landmarks and UNESCO World Heritage sites as his canvas, set Guinness World Records for live audience attendance, and was the first western musician invited to perform in China.
Five decades
Detailed timeline
After studying harmony and counterpoint at the Conservatoire de Paris and working with Pierre Schaeffer at the GRM, Jarre composed early electronic works. In 1976 he topped charts worldwide with the breakthrough album Oxygene. 1978's Equinoxe followed, and in 1979 he created the first of his outdoor concert-events at Place de la Concorde to one million people.
Honours
Awards & recognition
Insignia of Commander to the Legion of Honour
Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication
President of CISAC, succeeding the late Robin Gibb
Officier de la Légion d'Honneur
MOJO Lifetime Achievement Award
Guinness World Record — biggest concert audience ever (Moscow, 3.5 million)
Victoire de la Musique for the album Chronologie
Minor planet 4422 named 'Jarre' in his honour
European Person of the Year by People magazine
Grand Prix du Disque from L'Académie Charles Cros, for Oxygene
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