The question of retirement age went over his head. Passionate about his job as a show producer, and still in practice, Jean-Pierre Delachasse died Wednesday evening at his home at the age of 85.
This man of character joined the stars he helped bring to perform in Melun (Seine-et-Marne): Johnny Hallyday (in 1975), Guy Bedos, Élie Kakou… He was the man in the shadows who delighted the public.
Founder and president of Arago Productions, he was also able to bring on stage Véronique Sanson, Francis Cabrel, Michel Sardou, Julien Clerc, and numerous actors and comedians at the Espace Pierre Bachelet in Dammarie-les-Lys (Seine-et-Marne).
An “unexpected” death
The opening of this large room with 1,670 seats in the city in 2012 delighted him. With the 700 seats at the Escale in Melun, it could give pride of place to the headliners, or even previews before the Parisian stage.
With his frankness and his easy informality, he left his mark on the people who knew him. “I had him on the phone again this weekend. His death is unexpected. It’s a big blow for me because Jean-Pierre was a friend. I have known him for 53 years. Before creating Arago, he organized balls,” remembers Gilbert Coullier, the producer of Laurent Gerra, an impersonator who performed many times in Dammarie.
The Covid period brought its activity to a halt due to confinement. He put all his energy into getting back on track and trying to make everyone want to go out again with posters that were always attractive.
“He largely contributed to the influence of Melun”
On its Facebook page, the city of Melun expressed its “deep sadness”: “He devoted his life to live performance and largely contributed to the influence of Melun by bringing in leading artists”. A passionate man until his last breath.
It is still unknown whether the scheduled shows are canceled or not. He was also a figure in the sporting world in Seine-et-Marne. Generations of footballers have known him. First as a coach at Fontainebleau. Then when he chaired US Melun from 1965 to 1987. When he arrived, the seniors were ranked at the departmental level.
With coach Claude Dusseau, he led them to the second division (today Ligue 2) in 1977. The same year, the junior team reached the semi-final of the Gambardella Cup and the cadets qualified for the semi-final of the French cadet championship. A great track record for an amateur club!
He contributed to Thuram’s transfer to Monaco
“In Melun, he did everything. He was a one-man band, everywhere at once! And someone very fine, with a sense of humor… An extraordinary guy. We don’t do it anymore,” underlines Philippe Tettamanti, former coach of the FC Melun football team for three seasons when Jean-Pierre Delachasse was the general manager. This football lover also contributed to the transfer of Lilian Thuram from Fontainebleau to AS Monaco in the early 1990s.
“He was a historic player in local life, a marker in both sporting and cultural life for several decades and a financial and strategic contributor to the Melun football club,” concludes Noël Boursin, sports assistant.
