Jacques Brel (April 8, 1929 – October 9, 1978) was a respected Belgian French-speaking singer-songwriter, considered by many as a poet as well, given the power of his lyrics. Known in the English-speaking world mainly through translations of his songs, he is also remembered in French-speaking countries as an actor and director. Brel was born in Schaarbeek, Belgium, a district of Brussels, but lived most of his life in Paris. He died in Bobigny in the suburbs of Paris, of lung cancer, and is buried in the Marquesas Islands.