Édouard Ruault, better known as Eddie Barclay, was a pivotal figure in the French recording industry and the founder of Barclay Records and the Barclay label. Born on January 26, 1921, in Paris, France, he was the son of a waiter and rose to prominence over his 84 years, becoming known not only for his professional achievements but also for his colorful personal life, which included nine marriages.

Barclay was self-taught on the piano, and as a teenager, he gained early exposure to the music industry by performing in the bar that his parents owned, located near the Gare de Lyon. During this time, he formed friendships with notable musicians and attended concerts by artists such as Stéphane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt. His first engagement in a nightspot occurred at Le Club prior to World War II. After France's liberation, he adopted the Americanized name 'Eddie Barclay' and briefly married Michèle Barraud in 1945.

His passion for jazz and insight into café society proved advantageous when he opened his first discothèque, The Barclay, in 1947. He also formed a jazz group with his second wife, Nicole Vandenbusche (known as Eve Williams), who served as the vocalist. Together, they launched their first label, which featured artists like Eddie Constantine and Don Byas, initially releasing 78 rpm records from their home. They later co-founded Jazz Magazine with editor Jean-Pierre Gibrat, contributing to the Blue Star series.

Barclay’s expertise in LP and 45 rpm production techniques grew after a trip to America in 1955, where he secured a distribution contract with Mercury Records for Europe. By the late 1950s, he had established a strong reputation in French jazz recordings. He released numerous records in the new microgroove format through the studio and pressing plant of the label he had acquired. In addition to producing and distributing works from various artists, he also engaged renowned musicians like Quincy Jones to record for the Barclay label. His artist roster included prominent figures such as Ray Charles, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Mireille Mathieu, Dalida, Jean Ferrat, Juliette Gréco, Jacques Brel, Léo Ferré, and Charles Aznavour, among many others. Barclay was involved in transcribing jazz recordings, co-writing, and scoring soundtracks for several films.

The Barclay brand was characterized by its lavishness, reflected in his penchant for white suits, an expansive estate in Saint-Tropez—introduced to him by Brigitte Bardot—and legendary celebrity parties that attracted considerable media attention. After undergoing treatment for throat cancer in 1979, he sold 80% of his company to Polygram. His marriages included Michèle, Nicole (with whom he spent 14 years), Marie-Christine Steinberg (with whom he had a son, Guillaume), Béatrice (who later married Michel Berger), Michele, Daniele, Cathy, Caroline (his wife for 11 years), and his final wife Tiare, whom he married in 2002 on the island of Moʻorea in Tahiti. Barclay published his autobiography in 1988. Following quadruple heart-bypass surgery in 1994, he encountered several infections in April 2005 that led to his hospitalization at Hôpital Ambroise Paré in Boulogne-Billancourt, Paris, where he passed away on May 13, 2005.

Born: January 26, 1921, Paris, France. Died: May 13, 2005, Boulogne-Billancourt, France.