Passionate, generous and deeply human, Fred Rister was recognised by all for his great simplicity.
"I am the most famous unknown", said Fred Rister recently with a touch of humour, in a beautiful portrait dedicated to him by Magsacem.
He said himself that it was his love of music which kept him alive despite the illness he had been fighting for so many years. "Music, this music, struck me for life", he revealed in his book last October while discussing electro-pop music.
Fred Rister displayed tremendous courage during those painful years, without ever losing the kindness and modesty which were so characteristic of his personality.
Fred Rister was also a fervent defender of authors' rights and closely associated with Sacem, which he never ceased to praise for the important role it plays for creators.
It was with great sadness that Sacem learned of his passing. We wish to pay tribute to both the man and the musician, and our thoughts go out to his family and loved ones.
"Fred Rister was a lifelong friend, an artist and a composer of extreme sensitivity. Someone both prolific and discreet, he has left behind, through many of his songs, indelible traces that resist the passing of time and trends. The man who made the whole world dance has gone, bowing out after an unequal fight which he waged with courage and positivity. Your humour, your smile, and your melodies will be missed."
Joachim Garraud, composer, DJ.
"Fred Rister was a fighter and a sensitive and talented composer who lived life beyond his wildest dreams: to make the Planet dance.I also remember his sense of humour, his delightful smile, his gentle and curious gaze at everything around him, his horror at injustice, his great sense of friendship, and his integrity. We fell in love with him instantly, deeply, and forever."
Christophe Piot, publisher, CEO of All Right Music
Published August 23 2019