[1][2][3][4] Born Louis Armand Aristide Bruand in the village of Courtenay, Loiret in France, Bruant left his home in 1866 at age fifteen, following his father's death, to find employment.

Making his way to the Montmartre Quarter of Paris, he hung out in the working-class bistros, where he finally was given an opportunity to show his musical talents.

[1] Bruant began performing at cafe-concerts and developed a singing and comedy act that led to his being signed to appear at the Le Chat Noir club.

[5] Toulouse-Lautrec designed the now iconic poster of Bruant, with his cape thrown over his shoulders and his famous red scarf around his neck, when he moved to the Café des Ambassadeurs in 1892.

As the master of ceremonies for the various acts, he used the comedy of the insult to poke fun at the club's upper-crust guests who were out "slumming" in Montmartre.