![[PHILIPPE MERLE / AFP]](/cdn-cgi/image/onerror=redirect,width=640,height=640,format=webp/https://storage.googleapis.com/uploads.mongoosehq.com/url/media/144503199/f46cc59f49c2c98250896b1a8a02f36f18c1e1ca3d1f102afcf6b1a06863baef)
![L'artiste, de son vrai nom Franco Gabelli, laisse derrière lui une carrière marquée par la chanson d'amour francophone. [© PHILIPPE MERLE / AFP]](/cdn-cgi/image/onerror=redirect,width=640,height=640,format=webp/https://storage.googleapis.com/uploads.mongoosehq.com/url/media/144441199/054ce6c0216e9c16e93d1d4e7be8bf4cb53b925c0ea5b41576950896e25120d4)
Overview
- His daughter Sandra Gabellin announced his death on Friday, June 12, saying fans would be invited to pay their respects.
- Multiple news outlets reported that he died of lung cancer, with his producer and Le Parisien describing the illness as rapid.
- Born Franco Gabelli in the Parma region of Italy, he began recording in 1974 and rose to wider fame with the 1996 hit 'Toutes les femmes sont belles'.
- Frank Michael claimed between 15 and 20 million record sales, earned dozens of gold disc certifications, and was made an Officer of the Order of the Crown in Belgium.
- The family said public visitations and a religious celebration will be organized and announced soon, leaving fans and venues time to prepare tributes for the performer who remained active through a December 2025 show.