Pierre Merlin (1918 – 2000) was a French artist and jazz musician known for designing the cover art of over 150 albums. [1]
Merlin was born in Bordeaux in 1918. [2] He studied at the École Municipale des Beaux Arts before receiving a scholarship to study fine art in Paris in 1942. It was there that Merlin began performing New Orleans style jazz eventually playing with Claude Luter and Sidney Bechet. [3] [4] Merlin alternated between the cornet and the trumpet. [4]
In the 1940s, Merlin did graphic design work for Hot Club de France. [4] His first sketches of jazz musicians were done at the 1948 Festival of Nice. [4] From 1950 to 1953 Merlin worked designing the album art work for the Vogue and Swing record labels. [4] The record labels would give Merlin very little information about the album he was working on. This was often just the title of the record, song title and photographs. [3] His work was influenced by the designer David Stone Martin. [4]
He died in Paris in 2000. [2]
With High Society Jazz Band:
With Claude Luter:
Pierre Merlin (1918 – 2000) was a French artist and jazz musician known for designing the cover art of over 150 albums. [1]
Merlin was born in Bordeaux in 1918. [2] He studied at the École Municipale des Beaux Arts before receiving a scholarship to study fine art in Paris in 1942. It was there that Merlin began performing New Orleans style jazz eventually playing with Claude Luter and Sidney Bechet. [3] [4] Merlin alternated between the cornet and the trumpet. [4]
In the 1940s, Merlin did graphic design work for Hot Club de France. [4] His first sketches of jazz musicians were done at the 1948 Festival of Nice. [4] From 1950 to 1953 Merlin worked designing the album art work for the Vogue and Swing record labels. [4] The record labels would give Merlin very little information about the album he was working on. This was often just the title of the record, song title and photographs. [3] His work was influenced by the designer David Stone Martin. [4]
He died in Paris in 2000. [2]
With High Society Jazz Band:
With Claude Luter: