The program was created by Jean Frydman and presented by Frank Ténot and Daniel Filipacchi on Europe 1 and was launched on 19 October 1959.
The program enjoyed a huge following, with a survey saying more than 40% of French youth between 12 and 15 years listened to it at its peak season.
The name of the program is taken from a 1957 song by Gilbert Bécaud called "Salut les copains".
The program proved to be a cultural and social phenomenon when during a concert in Place de la Nation organised by the station on 22 June 1963 (to celebrate the first anniversary of launching of the magazine Salut les copains), 200,000 youth attended to hear Sylvie Vartan, Richard Anthony, Dick Rivers et les Chats sauvages, Danyel Gérard, les Gams, and Johnny Hallyday.
The program also prompted popular French rock artist Johnny Hallyday to release an album of the same title in 1961.