Philippe Constantin

French musical and label director, talent scout, publisher, journalist
1944-1996
Former journalist in french music magazines such as Best, Jazz Hot, Rock & Folk and also at Jeune Afrique or Le Magazine Littéraire, he took up a position at Les Industries Musicales Et Electriques Pathé Marconi of handling label catalogs Blue Note or Impulse!, and artists such as Pink Floyd, Canned Heat, Pete Brown, Deep Purple, Paul McCartney, Leonard Cohen. In 1973, he directed Éditions Pathé Marconi and signed major artists as [a640267], [a477455] or [a306466].

He finally founded his own publishing company Clouseau Musique in 1978 and co-founded Virgin France S.A. with Patrick Zelnik and Thierry Haupais in 1980. From 1985 he directed another french label, Barclay, and signed many influential rock artists such as [a85007], [a934473] or [a17974]. He then became head of mostly african and reggae music oriented label Mango, and signed major artists as Salif Keita, [a99445], King Sunny Ade & His African Beats or Angélique Kidjo.

Eventually pivotal on both 70's and 80's french rock and pop scenes, Philippe Constantin has been proved crucial for many other great artists in France and abroad: [a420011], [a457235], [a512114], [a280811], Etienne Daho, [a55760], [a282476], [a367370], Stephan Eicher, [a45932], Fela Kuti, [a10431], [a401393], [a30484], The Communards, Los Lobos, [a151608], Fine Young Cannibals, Run-DMC and many more...

From 2002 to 2011 a yearly award – Le Prix Constantin – was given to young talents whom can be heard on compilations of [l99236].