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Michel Legrand

Michel Legrand

Michel Jean Legrand (24 February 1932 – 26 January 2019) was a French musical composer, arranger, conductor, and jazz pianist. Legrand was a prolific composer, having written over 200 film and television scores, in addition to many songs. His scores for the films of French New Wave director Jacques Demy, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) and The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967), earned Legrand his first Academy Award nominations. Legrand won his first Oscar for the song "The Windmills of Your Mind" from The Thomas Crown Affair (1968).

Legrand was born in Paris to his father, Raymond Legrand, who was himself a conductor and composer, and his mother, Marcelle Ter-Mikaëlian, who was the sister of conductor Jacques Hélian. Raymond and Marcelle were married in 1929. His maternal grandfather was Armenian.

Legrand composed more than two hundred film and television scores. He won three Oscars and five Grammys. He studied music at the Conservatoire de Paris from age 11, working with, among others, Nadia Boulanger and graduated with top honors as both a composer and a pianist. He burst upon the international music scene at 22 when his album I Love Paris (album) became a surprise hit. He established his name in the United States by working with such jazz stars as Miles Davis and Stan Getz. His sister Christiane Legrand was a member of The Swingle Singers and his niece Victoria Legrand is a member of the dream pop band Beach House.

Legrand composed music for Jacques Demy's films The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) and The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967), and appeared and performed in Agnès Varda's Cléo from 5 to 7 (1961). He also composed music for Joseph Losey's Eva (1962), The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) (which features "The Windmills of Your Mind"), Ice Station Zebra (1968), The Picasso Summer (1969), The Lady in the Car with Glasses and a Gun (1970), The Go-Between (1971), Summer of '42 (1971), Clint Eastwood's Breezy (1973), The Three Musketeers (1973), Orson Welles's last-completed film F for Fake (1974) and would later compose the score for Welles's posthumously-released movie The Other Side of the Wind (2018). He also composed the score for Yentl (1983), as well as the film score for Louis Malle's film Atlantic City (1980). His instrumental version of the theme from Brian's Song charted 56th in 1972 on the Billboard's pop chart.

Legrand died of sepsis, during the night of 25–26 January 2019, at the American Hospital of Paris in Neuilly-sur-Seine, where he had been hospitalized for two weeks for a pulmonary infection. His funeral was held in Paris at the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral on 1 February 2019. He was interred at the Père Lachaise Cemetery. He remained active until his death and had concerts scheduled to take place in the spring.

In 1997, Legrand composed the score for the musical Le Passe-muraille, with a book by Didier Van Cauwelaert. It premiered on Broadway in 2002 as Amour and was translated into English by Jeremy Sams and was directed by James Lapine. This musical was his Broadway debut and he was nominated for a Tony Award in 2003 for Best Score. Later he recorded Legrand Affair with Melissa Errico, a 100-piece symphony orchestra that included songs with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. ...

Source: Article "Michel Legrand" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

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2017

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Oscar and the Lady in Pink

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2009

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2008

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2008

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2006

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2004

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2003

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1999

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1998

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1996

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1996

Original Music Composer

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1995

Music

The World of Jacques Demy

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1995

Original Music Composer

Les Miserables

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1995

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Prêt-à-Porter

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1994

Original Music Composer

Once Upon a Time... The Discoverers

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1994

Original Music Composer

The Young Girls Turn 25

The Young Girls Turn 25

1993

Original Music Composer

The Pickle

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1993

Music

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1992

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1992

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Mountain of Diamonds

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1991

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1991

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Gaspard and Robinson

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1990

Music

Eternity

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1990

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Carnaval

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1990

Music

Flight from Paradise

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1990

Music

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1989

Original Music Composer

Five Days in June

Five Days in June

1989

Director, Writer

Un coupable

Un coupable

1988

Original Music Composer

Three Seats for the 26th

Three Seats for the 26th

1988

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Switching Channels

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1988

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Spiral

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1987

Original Music Composer

Once Upon a Time... Life

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1987

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Casanova

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1987

Music

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1986

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Promises to Keep

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1985

Original Music Composer

Parking

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1985

Music

Going and Coming Back

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1985

Original Music Composer

Palace

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1985

Music

Hell Train

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1985

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Zoom the White Dolphin

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1985

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Paroles et musique

Paroles et musique

1984

Original Music Composer

The Jesse Owens Story

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1984

Original Music Composer

Secret Places

Secret Places

1984

Music

Yentl

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1983

Original Music Composer, Songs

A Love in Germany

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1983

Original Music Composer

Never Say Never Again

Never Say Never Again

1983

Original Music Composer

Revenge of the Humanoids

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1983

Original Music Composer

Best Friends

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1982

Music

Once Upon a Time… Space

Once Upon a Time… Space

1982

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A Woman Called Golda

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1982

Original Music Composer

Bankers Also Have Souls

Bankers Also Have Souls

1982

Original Music Composer

The Button

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1982

Music

Bolero: Dance of Life

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1981

Music

Falling in Love Again

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1980

Music

Atlantic City

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1980

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The Hunter

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1980

Original Music Composer

The Mountain Men

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1980

Original Music Composer

The Fabulous Adventures of the Legendary Baron Munchausen

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1979

Music

Lady Oscar

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1979

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Once Upon a Time… Man

Once Upon a Time… Man

1978

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The Phoenix

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1978

Music

Roads to the South

Roads to the South

1978

Original Music Composer

One Can Say It Without Getting Angry

One Can Say It Without Getting Angry

1978

Original Music Composer

The Other Side of Midnight

The Other Side of Midnight

1977

Original Music Composer

Gulliver's Travels

Gulliver's Travels

1977

Music

Ode to Billy Joe

Ode to Billy Joe

1976

Original Music Composer

Gable and Lombard

Gable and Lombard

1976

Original Music Composer

The Smurfs and the Magic Flute

The Smurfs and the Magic Flute

1976

Original Music Composer

La Décharge

La Décharge

1976

Original Music Composer

Sheila Levine Is Dead and Living in New York

Sheila Levine Is Dead and Living in New York

1975

Original Music Composer, Music

Lovers Like Us

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1975

Music

Cage Without a Key

Cage Without a Key

1975

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Our Time

Our Time

1974

Original Music Composer, Conductor

It's Good to Be Alive

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1974

Original Music Composer

The Three Musketeers

The Three Musketeers

1973

Original Music Composer

Breezy

Breezy

1973

Original Music Composer

A Slightly Pregnant Man

A Slightly Pregnant Man

1973

Original Music Composer

F for Fake

F for Fake

1973

Original Music Composer

A Doll's House

A Doll's House

1973

Original Music Composer, Conductor

Cops and Robbers

Cops and Robbers

1973

Original Music Composer

40 Carats

40 Carats

1973

Original Music Composer

Story of a Love Story

Story of a Love Story

1973

Original Music Composer

Bequest to the Nation

Bequest to the Nation

1973

Original Music Composer

Le Temps de vivre... Le Temps d'aimer

Le Temps de vivre... Le Temps d'aimer

1973

Original Music Composer

The Hostage Gang

The Hostage Gang

1973

Music

The Adventures Of Don Quixote

The Adventures Of Don Quixote

1973

Music

The Outside Man

The Outside Man

1972

Original Music Composer

Not Dumb, the Bird

Not Dumb, the Bird

1972

Music

Lady Sings the Blues

Lady Sings the Blues

1972

Original Music Composer

ABC Afterschool Special

ABC Afterschool Special

1972

Book, Music

One Is a Lonely Number

One Is a Lonely Number

1972

Conductor, Original Music Composer

Portnoy's Complaint

Portnoy's Complaint

1972

Original Music Composer

Hearth Fires

Hearth Fires

1972

Original Music Composer

A Time for Loving

A Time for Loving

1972

Original Music Composer

La Vie sentimentale de Georges le tueur

La Vie sentimentale de Georges le tueur

1972

Music

The Old Maid

The Old Maid

1972

Original Music Composer, Conductor

Brian's Song

Brian's Song

1971

Original Music Composer

A Little Sun in Cold Water

A Little Sun in Cold Water

1971

Original Music Composer

Touch and Go

Touch and Go

1971

Original Music Composer

Le Mans

Le Mans

1971

Original Music Composer

The Go-Between

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1971

Original Music Composer

Summer of '42

Summer of '42

1971

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1971

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1970

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The Lady in the Car with Glasses and a Gun

1970

Original Music Composer

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1970

Original Music Composer

Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights

1970

Original Music Composer

To Catch a Pebble

To Catch a Pebble

1970

Original Music Composer

The Happy Ending

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1969

Music

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1969

Original Music Composer, Music

Castle Keep

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1969

Music, Conductor

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1969

Original Music Composer

Play Dirty

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1969

Conductor, Music

Ice Station Zebra

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Original Music Composer, Conductor

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The Thomas Crown Affair

1968

Original Music Composer, Conductor

A Hatful of Rain

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1968

Music

Sweet November

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1968

Original Music Composer

How to Save a Marriage and Ruin Your Life

How to Save a Marriage and Ruin Your Life

1968

Original Music Composer

The Man in the Buick

The Man in the Buick

1968

Music Director, Original Music Composer

Pretty Polly

Pretty Polly

1967

Music

La Chinoise

La Chinoise

1967

Original Music Composer

The Oldest Profession

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1967

Original Music Composer

The Young Girls of Rochefort

The Young Girls of Rochefort

1967

Songs, Original Music Composer, Other, Music Director

1999 A.D.

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1967

Original Music Composer

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Who Are You, Polly Maggoo?

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Original Music Composer

The Plastic Dome of Norma Jean

The Plastic Dome of Norma Jean

1966

Original Music Composer, Conductor

Funny Money

Funny Money

1966

Original Music Composer

A Matter of Resistance

A Matter of Resistance

1966

Original Music Composer

The Spy Who Went Into Hell

The Spy Who Went Into Hell

1965

Music

The Botanical Avatar of Mademoiselle Flora

The Botanical Avatar of Mademoiselle Flora

1965

Music

From a Distant Gaze

From a Distant Gaze

1964

Music

Le Grand Escroc

Le Grand Escroc

1964

Original Music Composer

The World's Most Beautiful Swindlers

The World's Most Beautiful Swindlers

1964

Original Music Composer

Band of Outsiders

Band of Outsiders

1964

Original Music Composer

The Lovers of the France

The Lovers of the France

1964

Music

Agent 38-24-36

Agent 38-24-36

1964

Original Music Composer

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

1964

Original Music Composer, Conductor, Songs

Maigret Sees Red

Maigret Sees Red

1963

Original Music Composer

The Lovely Month of May

The Lovely Month of May

1963

Original Music Composer

Love Is a Ball

Love Is a Ball

1963

Original Music Composer

Bay of Angels

Bay of Angels

1963

Original Music Composer

L'Amérique lunaire

L'Amérique lunaire

1963

Music

Eva

Eva

1962

Original Music Composer

The Gentleman from Epsom

The Gentleman from Epsom

1962

Music

Vivre Sa Vie

Vivre Sa Vie

1962

Original Music Composer

Playtime in Paris

Playtime in Paris

1962

Music

Cléo from 5 to 7

Cléo from 5 to 7

1962

Original Music Composer, Songs

L'Envie

L'Envie

1962

Music

La colère

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1962

Music

La Gourmandise

La Gourmandise

1962

Sound

Lust

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1962

Original Music Composer

The Seven Deadly Sins

The Seven Deadly Sins

1962

Original Music Composer

La Paresse

La Paresse

1962

Original Music Composer

The Counterfeiters of Paris

The Counterfeiters of Paris

1961

Original Music Composer

A Woman Is a Woman

A Woman Is a Woman

1961

Original Music Composer

It Means That Much to Me

It Means That Much to Me

1961

Music

Lola

Lola

1961

Music, Original Music Composer

The Fiancés of Macdonald Bridge

The Fiancés of Macdonald Bridge

1961

Original Music Composer, Musician

Melancholia

Melancholia

1961

Music

The French Game

The French Game

1960

Original Music Composer

The Door Slams

The Door Slams

1960

Original Music Composer

Jack of Spades

Jack of Spades

1960

Music

America as Seen by a Frenchman

America as Seen by a Frenchman

1960

Music

Jours de mes années

Jours de mes années

1959

Music

Sinners of Paris

Sinners of Paris

1958

Music

Too Many Lovers

Too Many Lovers

1957

Music

The Tricyclist

The Tricyclist

1957

Original Music Composer

Razzia

Razzia

1955

Music Director

Lovers' Net

Lovers' Net

1955

Original Music Composer

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