Born in Paris, he was the son of Hélène Benois, a Russian surrealist painter, and Russian-born experimental composer Ivan Wyschnegradsky.
During the Second World War, he listened to radio shows by Hugues Panassié, and developed an interest in jazz, particularly Django Reinhardt.
A French record label, Disques Vogue, began issuing current American blues records, by John Lee Hooker, Champion Jack Dupree and others, and in 1951 Big Bill Broonzy played in Paris, accompanied by Blind John Davis.
[1][2] He met Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee in 1958,[3] and in 1959 made his first visit to the United States, with Marcel Chauvard.
He met, photographed and interviewed Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Elmore James, Tampa Red, Kokomo Arnold, Champion Jack Dupree and many others, and on his return published the results in Jazz Hot.