Gabriel Yacoub: An Interview and a Tribute

Those who know me well know of my love for singer-songwriters from around the world. Around 30 years ago I developed an interest in French singer-songwriters, both from Quebec and France. It was back then when I discovered Gabriel Yacoub. His voice, words, and presence took me totally off guard and I became deeply attached to his music. I can't remember the source, but I recall years ago reading an article in which Yacoub's voice was described as being like honey. That's a good comparison: sweet and rich, while also full of emotion and texture. 

I was devastated last week to see a post come across my Facebook feed saying that Gabriel Yacoub died on January 22nd at the age of 72. In a time of lots of loss of great musicians, this one is hitting me the hardest thus far. His music penetrated my soul. He wasn't a huge star in the commercial sense, but this is a classic case of "if you know, you know." He was a true artist in more than one sense (he was also a visual artist) and influential to those of us privileged enough to have known his work. 

In 2003, when I was actively working as an arts journalist, I was lucky enough to interview Gabriel Yacoub on the phone. It was published on an earlier version of this website and is one of the few English language interviews with him. I figured this is as good a time as any to republish that interview with the hope that it will help support keeping his memory and music alive.