Cyrille "CLEARLIGHT" Verdeaux
COMPOSER, PIANIST, MULTI-KEYBOARDIST, PRODUCER

CYRILLE VERDEAUX, native of France, was born July 31, 1949 in Paris. In 1963 at the age of 14, he entered the prestigious French National Conservatory of Music in Paris studying composition, harmony, and piano. From 1966 to 1968 he won first place in student composition three successive times. During the student uprisings of 1968 he was dismissed from the Conservatory for his revolutionary activities. He then attended the Nice Conservatory earning a Masters diploma, returning to Paris to form the band Babylone with guitarist Christian Boule.
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In 1975 Virgin Records released the first album of Cyrille Verdeaux compositions titled CLEARLIGHT SYMPHONY. Clearlight became the first French progressive rock band signed to a major British record label. Gathering accolades for its unique compositions and keyboard stylings, the music spanned from classical romanticism to lush experimentation. Cyrille Verdeaux and CLEARLIGHT toured England and Europe with the legendary band "GONG".

Virgin Records released the second Clearlight album, FOREVER BLOWING BUBBLES in 1976. Featuring an ensemble cast of stellar players the album added jazzy touches to the heady mix of Rock, classical and psychedelic sound paintings. Simultaneously, Cyrille Verdeaux composed and recorded the musical score to the film VISA DE CENSURE # X by Pierre Clementi. EMI Records subsequently released the resulting soundtrack album entitled DELIRED CAMELEON FAMILY. The movie and its score were considered important artwork. They were purchased by the French Museum of Modern Art and were often shown.

In 1977 RCA Records in Europe released the CLEARLIGHT album, LES CONTES DU SINGE FOU also known as the "mad monkey" record. Psychedelic and visionary currents explode with visionary lyrics throughout courtesy of British vocalist Ian Bellamy. Once again the pure sound of Cyrille Verdeaux's piano is accompanied by an army of synthesizers to create a work that is considered a progressive rock masterpiece, thanks also to the part played by the incredible violinist Didier Lockwood.

The fourth CLEARLIGHT album, CLEARLIGHT VISIONS was released in 1978 by Polydor Records. Featuring virtuoso Didier Lockwood on violin, Cyrille Verdeaux took the reins of production for the first time, fusing his classical and rock strains with the Sitar and Tabla. CLEARLIGHT followed VISIONS with successful tours of England and Europe, appearing in prestigious concert halls such as the Olympia Music Hall and the Cathedral of Saint Etienne du Mont.
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The tragic death of his 4-year-old son, Jonathan became a catalyst for Cyrille to study and travel the World. He visited India where he studied music, yoga and meditation in various ashrams. The practice of these disciplines has had a large influence on his life and his music since then.

In 1980 Cyrille traveled to the United States and released the albums OFFRANDES and NOCTURNE DIGITALES on Fortuna Records. He spent the next eighteen months in India perfecting his studies of yoga and music. When he returned, he released PROPHECY on Fortuna Records with Bernard Xolotl and also the albums MOEBIUS and SHAMBALA on the Record Company "Soundings of the Planet".
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In 1982 Cyrille teamed up with producer/engineer/manager Josh Goldstein to help reenergize his musical career. In 1983 the albums FLOWERS FROM HEAVEN, PIANO FOR THE THIRD EAR, MESSENGER of the SON and JOURNEY TO TANTRALAND were born.
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In 1984, these albums were used to create the KUNDALINI OPERA, released only on cassette tape by Eurock.
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In 1985 the album MESSENGER OF THE SON was released on Catero Records, an independent label of the famed CBS producer and engineer Fred Catero. The record company declared bankruptcy four months after the release, preventing it from getting proper distribution and promotion. One track from this album did receive wider exposure, a piano solo composed by Cyrille as a Requiem for his son Jonathan. Released by Windham Hill Records on their PIANO SAMPLER album, it also was part of the video WINTER.

In 1987 Cyrille returned to France, embarking on a career teaching music while continuing to compose and produce music. RHAPSODY FOR THE BLUE PLANET was released on Emen Records in 1988.

Using digital keyboards, a computer and digital recording, Cyrille created CLEARLIGHT SYMPHONY II. The album continued the main theme of the original CLEARLIGHT SYMPHONY but it took symphonic keyboard music into a new domain by using new inspiration and new technology. The album was released on Mantra Records in 1990.

In 1994, Cyrille returned in California, especially in Santa Cruz, the native town of his children. During the summer 1994, he recorded with Santa Cruz based singer-keyboardist Gunnar Amundson a modern remake of LES CONTES DU SINGE FOU, entitled IN YOUR HANDS. Musea records in Europe released the resulting Clearlight record.

HERE & NOW

From 1995 to the present, Cyrille Verdeaux has continued to work on new material, experimenting with new composition techniques, utilizing samples, computer software and modern technology. Several new albums are ready for release:

TRIBAL HYBRID CONCEPT, an ethnic electronic album, recorded with ethnological sample specialist Pascal Menestreyl. Combining Cyrille Verdeaux's symphonic abilities and Pascal's creative samples, they selected ethnic voices and instrumentation used with music and chants of over thirty different tribes from all around the World. These peoples share many things, including the tragedy of facing extinction and the destruction of the planet. THC allows the listener to discover these ancestral shamanic sounds, transporting you through the planetary web of light.

ETHNICOLOURS, also utilizes the same ethnic chants and samples but with Goa, Tribal and House grooves to create a sound that is at home on the dance floor, in a Rave or at a party. Fat bass and drums combine with techno synthesizers. This music hits you in the heart in the head and through your feet. A techno progressive masterpiece.

AEROBIX, progressive, upbeat music for aerobic exercise and dance that uses powerful melodies, ethnic percussion and digital sampling for an uplifting, energizing dance experience.

IMPRESSIONIST VISIONS Combines solo piano mixed with environmental sounds. The pure sound of Cyrille Verdeaux's acoustic piano, mixed with natural sounds representing the four elements (the piano being the fifth), this album draws inspiration from many sources. Musically, echoes of Debussy, Ravel, Chopin and Satie are heardthroughout. Additional inspiration came from the lives of the great French Impressionist painters Monet, Renoir, Gaughin, Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec providing keys to a higher and direct source of artistic vision. The result is an album of singular beauty and ineffable grace that shines like a bright light into your soul.

The Rainbow Music and the Kundalini Opera series, launching CLEARLIGHT 888.com web site for 1999, along with different other projects, like his millenium book, the Angelic Revolutionary Alphabetical, his 6 video tapes showing his Solar warrior Yoga and the Sacred Music Spiral festival for world peace.

Contact : Clearlight Music
Phone: (33) 4 78 93 77 85