The Avenue Gambetta is named after the politician Léon Gambetta (1838-1882), who was a member of the national defense government in 1870, president of the Council and deputy of the 20th arrondissement. Check out the former residence of accordionist Raymond Jouart nearby at number 25.
Raymond Jouart (Accordeon)
25 Av. Gambetta, 75020 Paris, France
During WW2 virtuoso accordionist Raymond Jouart entertained the French workers in the factories of Germany. More than 600,000 French workers were sent to Germany between June 1942 and July 1944. The pro-Hitler regime of Marshal Pétain made French workers available to the German invaders, and French youth were forced into mandatory labour service. In 1942 Jouart travelled throughout Europe, visiting Berlin, Danzig, Vienna, Breslau and many smaller locations. Aged 14, he was a propagandist’s dream, his smiling face appearing on the front page of the Paris-Midi newspaper. Playing in Music Halls alongside him on the tour were Jean Suscinio and his sailors. At the age of 16 he was leading his own orchestra, accompanying patriotic singer Gaston Dona. In the 1960s he released a number of EPs with the singer Patricia Francis. Jouart played the accordion with the Balalaika Ensemble Of Paris in the 1970s, including concerts at Carnegie Hall (New York) and the Royal Albert Hall (London) with the vocalist Ivan Rebroff.
Guide to Paris Show Business 