Guy Béart, one of France's best-known troubadours who was considered one of the finest exponents of the "chanson francaise" genre, died on Wednesday at the age of 85, reports AFP.
With a career spanning more than six decades, Béart ranks alongside French-language singers such as Jacques Brel and Georges Brassens.
His press spokesman Fabien Lecoeuvre announced his death, saying: "His daughters just called me. He died this morning on the way to the hair salon. He fell on the pavement and he could not be resuscitated."
One of his daughters is Emmanuelle Béart, one of France's most prominent actresses, having risen to international fame in the 1986 film Manon des Sources.
Just nine months ago, Guy Béart had given his final performance at the Olympia, the Paris concert hall where he first performed in 1957.
In his final concert, as throughout his career, the biggest ovation was for his signature song L'eau vive (Whitewater), which generations of French children have learned.