1946–1985 · French close-harmony vocal group · nine voices, three to a part
Formed in 1946 out of a Lyon group founded in 1941, the Compagnons were a nine-man choir — three tenors, three baritones, three basses — who had already made “Les trois cloches” with Édith Piaf in 1946 and toured it around the world. Their “Je t’appartiens,” arranged by Nino Nardini and cut on 8 September 1955 for Columbia, is the earliest session anyone has put a date to for this song; Radio France’s account is that they got there first because Bécaud had sworn off recording it. Their disc reached the shops after his, in January 1956, which is why most discographies file them as a cover. They gave their last concert at the Paris Olympia on 14 February 1985.