Loulou Gasté
Encyclopedia
Louis "Loulou" Gasté was a French composer of several successful mélodies.
Louis Gasté was born in Paris in 1908. In his fifty year career, he composed approximately 1,200 songs, ten of which have received international success. In 1929, he played in Ray Ventura
's orchestra, and composed several pieces for him. He discovered and launched Line Renaud
, a famous French singer and actress in 1945, and married her in 1950.
He died at Rueil-Malmaison in 1995.
"Pour Toi" / "Feelings"
In September 1956, Loulou composed "Pour Toi" ("For you") with lyrics by Albert Simonin
and his wife Marie-Hélène Bourquin, for the popular singer Dario Moreno
. Dario Moreno sang it in the film Le Feu aux Poudres. It was sung later by Line Renaud, and was reinterpreted in France and internationally by various singers.
In 1974, Morris Albert
sang it in English and was associated as the original author in "Feelings"
, launched in Sao-Paolo by Augusta Do Brazil. In 1975, Mike Brant brought it back to France under the title "Dis-Lui" ("Tell her").
In 1976, "Feelings" was a worldwide success and was recorded by Elvis Presley
, Frank Sinatra
and others.
In 1977, Loulou discovered the song was one of his own melodies and later sued Morris Albert. On 22 December 1988, a court found in favor of Loulou Gasté, and he is now officially the sole creator of the song, gaining seven-eighths of all royalties (though Albert gets the rest for his lyrics contribution).
For Line Renaud, he composed some famous tunes :
Louis Gasté was born in Paris in 1908. In his fifty year career, he composed approximately 1,200 songs, ten of which have received international success. In 1929, he played in Ray Ventura
Ray Ventura
Raymond Ventura was a French jazz bandleader. He played a significant role in popularizing jazz in France in the 1930s.-Career:...
's orchestra, and composed several pieces for him. He discovered and launched Line Renaud
Line Renaud
- Early life :Line Renaud was born in Pont-de-Nieppe on 2 July 1928. Her mother Simone was a shorthand typist; her father was a truck driver during the week, but he played trumpet at the weekends, in a local brass band...
, a famous French singer and actress in 1945, and married her in 1950.
He died at Rueil-Malmaison in 1995.
"Pour Toi" / "Feelings"Feelings (song)"Feelings" is a song based on a melody composed by Loulou Gasté and made famous by Morris Albert, who recorded it as a single released in 1974 that later appeared as the title track of his 1975 debut album. The song's lyrics, recognizable by their "whoa whoa whoa" chorus, concern the singer's...
/ "Dis-Lui" : Story of a single song
In September 1956, Loulou composed "Pour Toi" ("For you") with lyrics by Albert SimoninAlbert Simonin
Albert Simonin was a French novelist and scriptwriter. He was born in the La Chapelle quarter of the 18th arrondissement of Paris. His father was a florist. Albert was orphaned by the age of 16. His novel Touchez Pas au Grisbi featuring the Parisian gangster Max le Menteur was turned into a movie...
and his wife Marie-Hélène Bourquin, for the popular singer Dario Moreno
Darío Moreno
Darío Moreno was a Turkish polyglot singer of Jewish origin, as well as an accomplished composer, lyricist and guitarist, who was born in Aydın, Turkey, in 1921, and who attained fame and made a remarkable career centered in France which also included films, during the fifties and the...
. Dario Moreno sang it in the film Le Feu aux Poudres. It was sung later by Line Renaud, and was reinterpreted in France and internationally by various singers.
In 1974, Morris Albert
Morris Albert
Morris Albert is a Brazilian singer and songwriter, famous for his 1975 hit single "Feelings"....
sang it in English and was associated as the original author in "Feelings"
Feelings (song)
"Feelings" is a song based on a melody composed by Loulou Gasté and made famous by Morris Albert, who recorded it as a single released in 1974 that later appeared as the title track of his 1975 debut album. The song's lyrics, recognizable by their "whoa whoa whoa" chorus, concern the singer's...
, launched in Sao-Paolo by Augusta Do Brazil. In 1975, Mike Brant brought it back to France under the title "Dis-Lui" ("Tell her").
In 1976, "Feelings" was a worldwide success and was recorded by Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
and others.
In 1977, Loulou discovered the song was one of his own melodies and later sued Morris Albert. On 22 December 1988, a court found in favor of Loulou Gasté, and he is now officially the sole creator of the song, gaining seven-eighths of all royalties (though Albert gets the rest for his lyrics contribution).
Compositions (incomplete)
- 1941: Avec son Ukulélé (for Jacques PillsJacques PillsJacques Pills was a French singer and actor, born René Jacques Ducos. His impresario was Bruno Coquatrix. In 1959, Pills was the Monegasque entrant at the Eurovision Song Contest 1959 with the song "Mon ami Pierrot"...
) - 1941: Le Chant du Gardian (for Tino RossiTino RossiTino Rossi was a singer and film actor.Born Constantino Rossi in Ajaccio, Corsica, France, he became a tenor of French cabaret and one of the great romantic idols of his time. Gifted with an operatic voice, a "Latin Lover" persona made him a movie star as well...
) - 1943: Elle Etait Swing (for Jacques Pills)
- 1943: L’âme au Diable (for Léo MarjaneLéo MarjaneLéo Marjane is a French singer who reached the peak of her popularity in the late 1930s and early 1940s, before her career went into sharp decline after the end of World War II....
) - 1943: Sainte-Madeleine (for Léo MarjaneLéo MarjaneLéo Marjane is a French singer who reached the peak of her popularity in the late 1930s and early 1940s, before her career went into sharp decline after the end of World War II....
) - 1944: Domingo (for Lucienne DelyleLucienne DelyleLucienne Delyle was a French singer.After the very famous song Mon amant de Saint-Jean , in 1942, Lucienne Delyle became the most popular French female singer of 1950s....
) - 1945: Le Petit Chaperon Rouge ( for Lisette Jambel)
- 1945: Quand un Cow-boy (for Georges GuétaryGeorges GuétaryGeorges Guétary, born Lambros Worloou was a French singer, dancer, cabaret performer and film actor, best known his role in the 1951 musical An American in Paris.-Early life and career:...
) - 1945: Le Rythme Américain (for Lily FayolLily FayolLily Fayol was a French singer.The artistic career of Lily Fayol began shortly before World War II...
) - 1945: Ce n’était pas Original ( for Jacqueline François)
- 1945: Le Porte Bonheur, Chica Chica ( for Jacques Hélian)
- 1945: Un Oiseau Chante ( for Gisèle PascalGisèle PascalGisèle Pascal was a French actress and a former lover of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco.She was born Gisèle Marie Madeleine Tallone at Cannes in France...
) - 1945: Luna Park ( for Yves MontandYves Montand-Early life:Montand was born Ivo Livi in Monsummano Terme, Italy, the son of poor peasants Giuseppina and Giovanni Livi, a broommaker. Montand's mother was a devout Catholic, while his father held strong Communist beliefs. Because of the Fascist regime in Italy, Montand's family left for France in...
) - 1945: Battling Jo (for Yves Montand)
- 1947: Au Chili ( for Jacques Hélian)
For Line Renaud, he composed some famous tunes :
- "Nous Deux"
- "Le Complet Gris"
- "Si J’avais la Chance"
- "Autant en Emporte le Vent"
- "Ma cabane au Canada" (won the "Grand Prix du Disque" from Académy Charles Cros in 1949)