Francois "Moustache" Galepides

François-Alexandre Galepides (14 February 1929 in Paris – 25 March 1987 in Arpajon), known by the stage name Moustache, was a French jazz drummer and actor

Born to a family of Greek descent, in 1948 he joined Lorient, the orchestra of Claude Luter, as a drummer, playing in clubs of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. He also regularly accompanied Sidney Bechet in France.

From 1950, he led his own bands (Les sept complices and Les gros minets). With the group Moustache et ses Moustachus, from 1956, he recorded, as a drummer and singer, several rock'n'roll novelty songs (e.g. "Le Croque-Skull-Creux", on a text by Boris Vian).

In 1978, he formed the group Les petits Français (including Marcel Zanini, Michel Attenoux and François Guin), which recorded, among other things, jazz pieces by Georges Brassens.

In parallel, Moustache had a career as a restaurateur (the restaurant Moustache, Avenue Duquesne Paris), head of clubs (in the 1960s, The Bilboquet and in 1976, The Jazz Club at the Hotel Méridien Etoile), comic and actor. His acting career included a few major roles such as Neither Seen Nor Recognized (1958) where he co-starred with Louis de Funès, and the 1975 version of Zorro where he portrayed Sergeant García alongside Alain Delon in the title role.

He was a member of the Star Racing Team in motor racing, with other celebrities of the 1980s such actors Jean-Louis Trintignant and Guy Marchand. He died in a car accident.

Birth and Death Data: Born February 14, 1929 (15th arrondissement of Paris (one of the 20 administrative districts of Paris, France)), Died March 25, 1987 (Arpajon (commune in Essonne, France) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1949 - 1952

Roles Represented in DAHR: drums

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca V3019 10/14/1949 Les oignons Sidney Bechet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 52V4202 1/18/1952 I remember when (Si tu vois ma mere) Sidney Bechet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 52V4205 1/18/1952 The fish vendor (Le marchand de poissons) Sidney Bechet instrumentalist, drums  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Galepides, Francois "Moustache"," accessed December 25, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/316848.

Galepides, Francois "Moustache". (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 25, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/316848.

"Galepides, Francois "Moustache"." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 25 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/316848

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