André Pascal
Encyclopedia
André Pascal born André Pascal Nicolas di Fusco in Marseille
, was a French song-writer and composer.
from François Villon
to Alfred de Vigny
. He could express himself in Alexandrian couplets, and he started to write. A few years later he was adapting well known French songs for his friends in a restaurant trade who would play them on their premises. It was at this time in 1957 that he met Charles Aznavour
who gave him the idea of trying to cut out a living in Paris. He wrote his first songs with Paul Mauriat
. In 1958 they were prizewinners in the 'Coq d'or De La Chanson Francaise' in Paris with Rendez-vous au Lavendou which was recorded by Dalida
and Henri Salvador
, to name but two. In 1960 he represented himself in this competition with Dans un million des années.
Following this he wrote many hits for the rockabilly
s and others: Laissez nous twister for les Chats Sauvages, Daniela (their biggest hit) for Les Chaussettes Noires
, and Oh Mary Lou and Je for Danyel Gérard
.
In 1964 he wrote the theme tune for the hit film Le Gendarme de Saint-Tropez, Dou-liou dou-liou St-Tropez which was a great success. Two years later he wrote 'Ticket de quai' for Annie Phillipe which shot to the top of the French charts.
Between 1967 and 1972 he wrote a lot of songs for Mireille Mathieu
: 'Mon Credo' (1,335,000 copies sold), Viens dans ma rue, La première étoile, La vieille barque, géant to name but a few. Sacha Distel
edited the first of these.
In 1971 he re-joined forces with Paul Mauriat to write 'Soleil lèves toi' for Caterina Valente
: this song denounced the dangers and perils of racism.
During his career he also wrote for Rika Zaraï
, Michèle Torr, Romuald
, John William, Nana Mouskouri
, and Lucky Blondo
In 1969 he wrote Catherine for Romuald who sang it at the Eurovision Song Contest
. In 1975 he won the Rose d'Or
D'Antibes with Toi ma Princesse en blue jean, sung by William Sailly. He was artistic director and editor, Pierre Bellemare
, producer, Gérard Gustin the composer.
In 1976 Nicoletta
recorded his lyrics and arrangement of Glory Alleilua, a hit later covered by Celine Dion
.
In 1979 Danyel Gérard recorded Marylou for which he was awarded a gold disc.
In 1981, after a long and successful career, tired with the demands of the showbiz world he returned to live in the South of France, where he continued to write. He died in 2001 following a long illness. His ashes were scattered in the sea close to Sète
where he had spent his final years.
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
, was a French song-writer and composer.
History
As an adolescent he was already well versed in French poetryFrench poetry
French poetry is a category of French literature. It may include Francophone poetry composed outside France and poetry written in other languages of France.-French prosody and poetics:...
from François Villon
François Villon
François Villon was a French poet, thief, and vagabond. He is perhaps best known for his Testaments and his Ballade des Pendus, written while in prison...
to Alfred de Vigny
Alfred de Vigny
Alfred Victor de Vigny was a French poet, playwright, and novelist.-Life:Alfred de Vigny was born in Loches into an aristocratic family...
. He could express himself in Alexandrian couplets, and he started to write. A few years later he was adapting well known French songs for his friends in a restaurant trade who would play them on their premises. It was at this time in 1957 that he met Charles Aznavour
Charles Aznavour
Charles Aznavour, OC is an Armenian-French singer, songwriter, actor, public activist and diplomat. Besides being one of France's most popular and enduring singers, he is also one of the best-known singers in the world...
who gave him the idea of trying to cut out a living in Paris. He wrote his first songs with Paul Mauriat
Paul Mauriat
Paul Mauriat was a French orchestra leader, specializing in light music. He is best known in the United States for his million selling remake of André Popp's "Love is Blue", which was #1 for 5 weeks in 1968...
. In 1958 they were prizewinners in the 'Coq d'or De La Chanson Francaise' in Paris with Rendez-vous au Lavendou which was recorded by Dalida
Dalida
Dalida , born with Italian name of Iolanda Cristina Gigliotti, was a world-famous singer and actress born in Egypt with Italian origins but naturalised French with the name Yolanda Gigliotti. She spent her early years in Egypt amongst the Italian Egyptian community, but she lived most of her adult...
and Henri Salvador
Henri Salvador
Henri Salvador was a French Caribbean singer.-Biography:Salvador was born in Cayenne, French Guiana. His father, Clovis, and his mother, Antonine Paterne, daughter of a native Indian from the Caribbean, were both from Guadeloupe, French West Indies...
, to name but two. In 1960 he represented himself in this competition with Dans un million des années.
Following this he wrote many hits for the rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
s and others: Laissez nous twister for les Chats Sauvages, Daniela (their biggest hit) for Les Chaussettes Noires
Les Chaussettes Noires
Les Chaussettes Noires were a French rock and roll band founded in 1960, that was among the pioneer of rock music in France, together with Les Chats sauvages....
, and Oh Mary Lou and Je for Danyel Gérard
Danyel Gérard
Danyel Gérard is a French pop singer and composer.Gérard was born in Paris to an Armenian father and an Italian mother, but grew up mainly in Rio de Janeiro. In 1953 he returned again to Paris and became a choir boy at Notre Dame. Following this he played in the rock and roll band The Dangers...
.
In 1964 he wrote the theme tune for the hit film Le Gendarme de Saint-Tropez, Dou-liou dou-liou St-Tropez which was a great success. Two years later he wrote 'Ticket de quai' for Annie Phillipe which shot to the top of the French charts.
Between 1967 and 1972 he wrote a lot of songs for Mireille Mathieu
Mireille Mathieu
Mireille Mathieu is a French chanteuse, and pop singer. Hailed in the French press as the successor to Édith Piaf, she has achieved great commercial success, recording over 1200 songs in nine different languages, with more than 120 million records sold worldwide.-Childhood to early...
: 'Mon Credo' (1,335,000 copies sold), Viens dans ma rue, La première étoile, La vieille barque, géant to name but a few. Sacha Distel
Sacha Distel
Sacha Distel was a French singer and guitarist who had hits with a cover version of the Academy Award-winning "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" , "Scoubidou", and "The Good Life". He was born in Paris.-Career:Sacha Distel, born Alexandre Distel, was a son of Russian White émigré Leonid Distel...
edited the first of these.
In 1971 he re-joined forces with Paul Mauriat to write 'Soleil lèves toi' for Caterina Valente
Caterina Valente
Caterina Valente is a singer, dancer, and actress. She was born into an Italian artist family; her father Giuseppe was a well-known accordion player, her mother, Maria Valente, a musical clown...
: this song denounced the dangers and perils of racism.
During his career he also wrote for Rika Zaraï
Rika Zaraï
Rika Zaraï , is an Israeli singer and writer, who performed in Hebrew, English, then in French, Italian, Spanish and German. She celebrated her 50 years of her career in 2008. She has a daughter named Yael, born in 1959.She became famous in 1969 with Casatchok and Alors je chante...
, Michèle Torr, Romuald
Romuald
Saint Romuald was the founder of the Camaldolese order and a major figure in the eleventh-century "Renaissance of eremitical asceticism"....
, John William, Nana Mouskouri
Nana Mouskouri
Nana Mouskouri , born Ioánna Moúschouri on October 13, 1934, in Chania, Crete, Greece, is a Greek singer who has sold about 300 million records worldwide in a career spanning over five decades, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. She was known as Nána to her friends and...
, and Lucky Blondo
In 1969 he wrote Catherine for Romuald who sang it at the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
. In 1975 he won the Rose d'Or
Rose d'Or
The Rose d’Or is one of the most important international festivals in entertainment television. It was founded in Montreux in 1961 and has taken place in Lucerne since 2004. Producers, executives from independent and public service broadcasters and heads of production companies from over 40...
D'Antibes with Toi ma Princesse en blue jean, sung by William Sailly. He was artistic director and editor, Pierre Bellemare
Pierre Bellemare
Pierre Bellemare is a French writer, novelist, radio personality, television presenter, TV producer, director, and actor.-In film:Bellemare has also featured in films:...
, producer, Gérard Gustin the composer.
In 1976 Nicoletta
Nicoletta
Nicoletta or Nicoleta may refer to:* Nicoleta Alexandru, singer who represented Romania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2003* Nicoletta Braschi, Italian actress* Nicoleta Grasu, Romanian discus thrower* Nicoleta Onel, Romanian gymnast...
recorded his lyrics and arrangement of Glory Alleilua, a hit later covered by Celine Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
.
In 1979 Danyel Gérard recorded Marylou for which he was awarded a gold disc.
In 1981, after a long and successful career, tired with the demands of the showbiz world he returned to live in the South of France, where he continued to write. He died in 2001 following a long illness. His ashes were scattered in the sea close to Sète
Sète
Sète is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France. Its inhabitants are called Sétois....
where he had spent his final years.