Best known for his decade-long tenure fronting the influential French rock band Telephone, Jean-Louis Aubert subsequently forged a successful solo career that tackled more personal themes and more complex musical ideas than his previous efforts foreshadowed. Born April 12, 1955, in Nantua, Aubert was the son of a sub-prefect, and raised largely by his parents' servants. A difficult and rebellious teenage period followed, and at 16 he hitchhiked across the U.S., busking on city streets and singing Rolling Stones covers to survive. Upon returning to Paris, Aubert befriended bassist Daniel Roux and drummer Richard Kolinka, with whom he co-founded the band Sémolina -- their lone WEA single, "Et J'y Vais Déjà," vanished upon release, however, and the trio quickly split.