Serge Gainsbourg's Real Name: Lucien Ginsburg
Serge Gainsbourg → Lucien Ginsburg
Quick answer: Serge Gainsbourg's real name was Lucien Ginsburg (also spelled Ginzburg in some French sources). He was born on April 2, 1928, in Paris, and died on March 2, 1991.
Birth name and name change
Lucien Ginsburg was born in Paris to Russian-Jewish immigrant parents Joseph and Olga Ginsburg, who fled the Russian Revolution. He trained in art before turning to cabaret piano and songwriting. He adopted the professional name Serge Gainsbourg (Gainsbourg echoing the painter Gainsborough, per standard biographical accounts) as he entered French popular music (Larousse; NYT obituary; Universal Music France).
French encyclopedias commonly state "Serge Gainsbourg, de son vrai nom Lucien Ginzburg," reflecting transliteration variants of the family surname.
Career highlights
Gainsbourg wrote and performed across chanson, jazz, yé-yé, funk, and reggae. Songs associated with him include "Le Poinçonneur des Lilas," "La Javanaise," "Bonnie and Clyde," and the controversial duet "Je t'aime… moi non plus" (notably with Jane Birkin). He composed for and with muses including Brigitte Bardot and Birkin, and directed films such as Je t'aime moi non plus (1976) (Larousse; Universalis; NYT).
He was equally known for provocative television appearances and for albums that reworked French cultural symbols (including a reggae-tinged "La Marseillaise" treatment that sparked public debate).
Death and legacy
Serge Gainsbourg died of a heart attack on March 2, 1991, in Paris, aged 62 (NYT). His daughter Charlotte Gainsbourg continued as an actress and singer; his Rue de Verneuil home later became a museum focus for fans. He remains one of the most covered and cited figures in modern French popular music.
Serge Gainsbourg best-of / Initials B.B. / Histoire de Melody Nelson album Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg recordings English-language biography of Gainsbourg
FAQ
What was Serge Gainsbourg's real name?
Lucien Ginsburg (often given as Lucien Ginzburg in French sources).
When was he born and when did he die?
Born April 2, 1928, in Paris; died March 2, 1991, in Paris.
Why did he change his name?
He took Serge Gainsbourg as a professional name when building a cabaret and recording career.
What is his most famous song internationally?
"Je t'aime… moi non plus," especially the Jane Birkin recording.
Was he only a singer?
No. He was a songwriter, composer, actor, and film director.
Who were his parents?
Russian-Jewish immigrants Joseph and Olga Ginsburg.
Sources
Further reading: Wikipedia