Suzanne Doucet Explained

Suzanne Doucet
Background:solo_singer
Birth Name:Suzanne Doucet
Birth Date:1944 8, df=yes
Origin:Tübingen, Germany
Instrument:Guitar, Keyboards, Synthesizers
Genre:Electronic, new-age
Occupation:Musician, Songwriter, producer
Years Active:1963- now
Label:Only New Age Music
Associated Acts:Doucet & Miraz, Zweistein
Website:http://www.suzannedoucet.com

Suzanne Doucet is a German new-age musician, producer, composer, and singer, best known for being one of the founders of new age music. She was the founder of the first new age music store in Hollywood, California Only New Age Music in 1987 and founded the first New Age Music Conference in Los Angeles in 1989.[1]

Doucet was an actress and singer in Germany and Switzerland in the 1960s and 1970s receiving European airplay for her German version of Be My Baby, which charted at number 1 on German music charts. Bunter Drachen, which appeared in the Guy Ritchie film, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. also charted at number 1.[2] She starred in Godspell, alongside Donna Summer, which toured throughout Europe.

In 2020, Fact Magazine listed Doucet's album Reflecting Light, Vol. 1 from 1983 at number 4 of the 20 Best New Age Albums of all Time.[3] Her single, Forever, was featured in Shirley Maclaine's videos, Inner Workout and Going Within.[4]

Early life and career

Suzanne Doucet was born on August 27, 1944, in Tübingen, Germany. Her father, Dr. Friedrich-Wilhelm Doucet, wrote numerous books on dream interpretation and parapsychological phenomena and her mother, Helen von Muenchhofen was a theater actress.[5] [6] Her grandmother, also named Helen von Muenchhofen was an actress as well and played a role in the silent movie, Metropolis.[7]

She moved to Munich in 1962 and studied at the Sorbonne in Paris in 1963. By the age of 18, Doucet was an established pop star in Germany.[8]

Career

Before Doucet started her career in the entertainment industry she worked as a designer and painter in Ascona (Switzerland). She played the leading part in a theater comedy "Die Türen knallen" in Stuttgart in 1963 and was discovered by the record company Metronome. She had her first TV appearance in the live TV show "Familienparty"[9] in Hamburg in 1963 on NDR.

As a pop music artist, Doucet's first hit song was the German version of Be My Baby (Sei mein Baby) in 1964 which reached #1 on the German pop charts. Shortly afterward she released, Das Geht Doch Keinen Etwas An which made the Top-10 on German charts.[10] [11] [12] Her first U.S. single release was, Swan Song (Liberty Records), which was listed as a Best Bet by Cashbox Magazine.[13]

As an actress Suzanne played also in the musical Godspell with Donna Summer directed by Samy Molcho in 1972 in Munich, Zurich and Vienna. She also played in many German TV plays and TV musicals with actors such as Thomas Fritsch, Hans Clarin, Marianne Hoppe, Rainer Werner Fassbinder and Ulli Lommel.[14] [15] She wrote songs for Udo Jürgens, Wenche Myhre, Mireille Mathieu, and Abi Ofarim. Doucet moderated several TV shows in Germany and Switzerland. Her guests included the group Yes the Bee Gees, Grateful Dead, Keith Emerson and David Bowie.[16] She composed music for the TV films All Backs Were Turned and Lieber Erwin, directed by award-winning director Thomas Fantl.[17]

Doucet moved to the US in 1983 and opened Only New Age Music in Hollywood, CA With her husband James Bell as well as founding the International New Age Music Network in 1987.[18] She produced and directed three international conferences and the first New Age/World Music Festival at the Wiltern Theater (featuring artists such as Paul Horn, Steven Halpern, Tim Wheater, Jai Uttal a.o.).[19] [20] Doucet recorded and released 50+ albums in the US with New Age music also collaborating with Chuck Plaisance, Gary Miraz, and Tajalli (See discography).

Doucet established herself in the US as a composer and producer as well. She won the Silver award at the WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival for her music video Starflight. She also produced albums with other artists and released 12 compilation albums called Sounds From the Circle with many well known new age artists such as Steven Halpern, Chuck Wild, Peter Kater, Sangeeta Kaur, Ricky Kej, Wouter Kellerman, and Anaya Kunst.[21] [22]

Discography

In Germany[23] [24]

In the USA[23]

Other

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Opposites attract at International New Age Conference . Los Angeles Times.
  2. Web site: The Man from UNCLE (2015) Soundtrack - Bunter Drachen . Cinetracks. September 8, 2015 . December 19, 2022.
  3. Web site: The 20 Best New Age Albums . FactMag.
  4. Web site: Suzanne Doucet. New Age Music. January 7, 2023.
  5. Web site: Author Dr. Friedrich-Wilhelm Doucet . Book Looker. February 10, 2023.
  6. Web site: Doucet Friedrich W. Abe Books. January 7, 2023.
  7. Web site: Suzanne Doucet. Astrotheme. February 10, 2023.
  8. Web site: Suzanne Doucet Biography. New Age Music. February 10, 2023.
  9. Web site: Familienparty . IMDb.
  10. Web site: Germany's Bestsellers Top 10 Tunes of the last 12 months. Cash Box 4. August 15, 1967. January 27, 2023.
  11. Web site: Suzanne Doucet - Sei mein Baby . Beatadelic. February 10, 2023.
  12. "New Age" The Tribune, page B2 November 6, 2020
  13. Web site: Best Bets. CashBox Magazine. October 5, 1968. December 19, 2022.
  14. Web site: Suzanne Doucet & Thomas Fritsch R.I.P. - Das Geld (live, 1967). Music Channel - Channel Music. April 21, 2021 . February 10, 2023.
  15. Web site: Suzanne Doucet - Bio. Reverb Nation. February 10, 2023.
  16. Web site: Suzanne Doucet Biography. New Age Music. February 10, 2023.
  17. Web site: Suzanne Doucet . IMDb.
  18. Web site: New Outlet Caters Solely to New Age Aficionados by Chris Morris . Billboard 2. February 2, 1987 . December 19, 2022.
  19. Web site: SD. New Age Music. February 10, 2023.
  20. Web site: New Age Music Conference. New Age Music Guide.
  21. Web site: Sounds From The Circle VI by BT Fasmer. New Age Music Guide. May 2, 2014. July 12, 2022.
  22. Web site: Sounds from the circle. AllMusic.
  23. Web site: “Suzanne Doucet: Wo sind all die schönen Jahre?Die Liedermacherin im Interview . Kues Magazin. May 20, 2012. December 19, 2022.
  24. Web site: Suzanne Doucet - Germany - Gallery. 45 Cat. January 7, 2023.
  25. Web site: Tranquility Series Sampler. Amazon. February 25, 2023.
  26. Web site: Sounds of Nature Sampler. Amazon. February 25, 2023.
  27. Web site: New Age Music Essentials: Transmission by Suzanne Doucet & Christian Buehner. New Age Music. June 30, 2022 . February 25, 2023.
  28. Web site: Transformation . February 25, 2023 . iHeart.