Cali - L'espoir

Folk-jazz singer/songwriter Cali emerged as one of French pop's biggest new stars when the listening public adopted his 2003 debut single, "C'est Quand le Bonheur?" as an anthem for post-adolescent disillusionment. Born Bruno Calicuri in Perpignan, France, in June 1968, he initially dreamed of a career as a professional rugby player before a 1984 U2 concert shifted his priorities to music. A self-taught guitarist, he soon emerged as a staple of the local live circuit, and after a series of short-lived band affiliations, he joined the group Indy in 1994. After two LPs and more than 200 live dates, Calicuri joined the band Tom Scarlett, issuing a self-financed album to scant attention in 1998. After dissolving the project, he abbreviated his name to Cali, and in collaboration with Tom Scarlett, guitarist Hugo Baretge began a lengthy residency at the Perpignan club Le Mediator.