Claude Salmiéri, born in Tunis into a family of musicians of Italian origin, is today recognized as one of the most versatile and sought-after artists on the French music scene. The son of a professional drummer, he took up his first drum kit at the age of five. At the age of eight, he entered the Saint-Maur-des-Fossés conservatory to study percussion and piano, before being admitted at the age of 15 to the Conservatoire national de Paris, where he won a Premier Prix in percussion and a classical piano prize in Saint-Maur.
His professional career got off to a brilliant start in 1976, when he accompanied Yves Simon and Robert Charlebois on stage. He then joined Magma (1978-1980), an emblematic progressive jazz-rock group, where he amplified his rhythmic expression and stage energy.
He went on to become a major studio musician, recording for such legends as Ray Charles, Michel Berger, Céline Dion, Renaud, Bernard Lavilliers, Marvin Gaye, France Gall, Kim Carnes, Ronnie Spector, Don Cherry and many others. At the same time, he tours with internationally renowned artists such as Lalo Schifrin, Robben Ford, Larry Carlton, Francis Cabrel, Véronique Sanson, Vladimir Cosma and Michel Delpech.
In 1988, he joined the Paga Group, exploring jazz fusion territory. He recorded his first solo album, Self Portrait, in 1991, a work that revealed his ability to compose and direct. In 1996, he founded the group STS with Jannick Top and released the album Système Solaire, opening the way to new sonic explorations.
At the same time, Claude contributed to the world of major musicals, taking part in the cult productions Starmania, Tycoon and Notre-Dame de Paris, further proof of the diversity of his artistic commitment.
From the 2000s onwards, his interest in jazz led to the formation of his own quartet, then a quintet, with which he offers the Projections Jazz Séries repertoire, revisiting themes from TV series and film scores (Mission Impossible, Bullitt, Mannix, etc.). In 2019, he publishes Cloud Draw, an atmospheric instrumental album recorded on the Les Contes de Roméo label, confirming his talent as a composer and performer.
In 2005, building on his experience and reputation, he collaborated with Prodipe to develop and sign a range of drums and pickups in his own name, now marketed internationally. This industrial commitment testifies to his influence and expertise, recognized by professional musicians.
Over the decades, Claude Salmiéri has also worked as an arranger for artists such as Véronique Sanson, providing keyboards and arrangements on several albums. He has produced, composed for studios and produced soundtracks, notably in collaboration with Vladimir Cosma, for films such as En lugar del Sr. Stein (2017), where he contributes to the soundtrack.
Today, Claude pursues a prolific career as a studio instrumentalist, conductor of his own jazz bands, sound engineer, instrument designer and composer of applied music. His exceptional career, combining classical rigor, jazzy creativity and pop openness, makes him a benchmark artist at the crossroads of aesthetics.
