Pierre Delanoë | |
|---|---|
 Delanoë in 1982 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Pierre Charles Marcel Napoléon Leroyer (1918-12-16)16 December 1918 Paris, France |
| Died | 27 December 2006(2006-12-27) (aged 88) Poissy, France |
| Genres | Chanson |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1945–2006 |
| Website | pierre-delanoe |
Pierre Charles Marcel Napoléon Leroyer (16 December 1918 – 27 December 2006), known professionally asPierre Delanoë (French pronunciation:[pjɛʁdəlanɔe]), was a French lyricist who wrote thousands of songs for dozens of singers, includingDalida,Edith Piaf,Charles Aznavour,Petula Clark,Johnny Hallyday,Joe Dassin,Michel Sardou andMireille Mathieu.[1][2]
Pierre Leroyer was born inParis. For his professional career, he adopted his grandmother'smaiden name Delanoë. After obtaining a law degree, he began a career as a tax collector, and later a tax inspector. AfterWorld War II, he metGilbert Bécaud and began working as a lyricist. For a period, he even performed alongside Bécaud in clubs. They penned some of France's best loved songs, including "Et maintenant", translated into English as "What Now My Love", which was covered by artists includingAgnetha Fältskog,Elvis Presley,Frank Sinatra,Barbra Streisand,the Supremes,Sonny & Cher,Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass andthe Temptations. "Je t'appartiens" ("Let It Be Me") was covered bythe Everly Brothers,Tom Jones,Bob Dylan,Willie Nelson,Nina Simone andNofx. "Crois-moi ça durera" was covered as "You'll See" byNat King Cole.
In addition to Bécaud, Delanoë wrote forÉdith Piaf ("La Goualante du pauvre Jean"),Tino Rossi,Hugues Aufray,Michel Fugain ("Je n'aurai pas le temps", "Une belle histoire"),Nicoletta,Nana Mouskouri,Michel Polnareff,Gérard Lenorman ("La Ballade des gens heureux"),Joe Dassin ("L'Été indien", "Les Champs-Élysées", "Et si tu n'existais pas"),Nicole Rieu ("Et bonjour à toi l'artiste") andMichel Sardou ("Les Vieux Mariés", "Le France"). He wrote a passionate song aboutJoan of Arc in "La demoiselle d'Orléans" forMireille Mathieu. The final lyric: "When I think of all I have given France... and she has forgotten me" was truly how the singer felt as she was made a caricature by Communists.[3]
The song "Dors, mon amour", performed byAndré Claveau, for which Delanoë only wrote the music,[4] and went on to win theEurovision Song Contest 1958.[2]
In 1955, Delanoë was involved as Director of Programs in the launch ofEurope 1, the first French radio station to program popular music in a modern way.[5]
He served as President ofSACEM in 1984 and 1986, then from 1988 to 1990, and again from 1992 to 1994. He was awarded the Poets Grand Prize in 1997 by the institution.
On 31 March 2004, Delanoë was given France's highest culture award, Commandeur of theOrdre des Arts et des Lettres.[6]
He created some controversy in July 2006 after expressing dislike forrap music, saying that it is "a form of expression for people incapable of making music" and "not music butvociferations,eructations (belching)".[2][5]
Delanoë died ofcardiac arrest in the early morning of 27 December 2006, at the age of 88 inPoissy near Paris. He is buried in the Cimetière deFourqueux, which is just southeast of Poissy.[7] His wife Micheline Leroyer (née Biesel) died on 16 January 2015, aged 97, and is buried beside him. They had three children: Pierre-Denis, Sylvie and Caroline.
