Noel Regney
Encyclopedia
Noël Regney World War II
veteran
and French
songwriter, composed the Christmas
standard "Do You Hear What I Hear?
" with his then-wife Gloria Shayne Baker
in 1962. Originally from Alsace
, France, he moved to New York City and then eventually Connecticut, where he lived out the remainder of his life. He is survived by his three children, Paul, Gabrielle, and Matthieu, and his ex-wife Dominique.
He was born Léon Schlienger in Strasbourg
, Alsace
, France
. Léon Schlienger, written backwards= Noël Regnei (-lhcS. dropping "lhcS"replacing i by y)= Noël Regney. He grew up Catholic
, but later became a Unitarian Universalist. He was drafted into the Nazi army despite being a Frenchman like many other "Malgré-nous
." As an Alsatian, he spoke the German dialect Alsatian
as fluently as French. It is said that he soon deserted, joined a group of French Resistance fighters, and became a double agent working for the French. He led a party of Nazis into an ambush, was shot in the arm, but survived. Eventually, while touring the USA, accompanying Lucienne Boyer
, contemporary of Édith Piaf
, he met his first wife pianist /composer Gloria Shayne with whom in 1962, he composed the famous Christmas song "Do You Hear What I Hear?"
In addition to "Do You Hear What I Hear?," Regney and Shayne composed "Rain, Rain, Go Away," "Sweet Little Darlin'," "Goodbye Cruel World
" (recorded by James Darren
in 1961) and "What's The Use of Crying." He led an ensemble that backed Kay Lande's vocals on For Sleepyheads Only. (1962) He wrote the English lyrics for The Singing Nun
(Soeur Sourire)'s famous song "Dominique
," the very name of his second wife, Dominique Gillain. Together they had a son Matthieu, born in 1982. Regney wrote the book and music for a musical biography of French writer Colette
as well as other musicals: "Merrimount" and " Landsake". He knew the composers Darius Milhaud
and Arthur Honegger
; studied with Olivier Messiaen
; may have studied with Honegger, and worked at Le Lido
in Paris. In the mid-1960s, he led a group known as the
Noel Regney Singers that released a children's album featuring folk songs in French and English
called "Songs that Help You Learn French", which is only availale on vinyl records. There was a Spanish-English version as well, but that one is much harder to find.
Noël died November 22, 2002, in Brewster, New York, of complications from Pick's disease
.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
and French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
songwriter, composed the Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
standard "Do You Hear What I Hear?
Do You Hear What I Hear?
"Do You Hear What I Hear?" is a Christmas song written in October 1962 with lyrics by Noël Regney and music by Gloria Shayne Baker. The pair were married at the time, and wrote it as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis...
" with his then-wife Gloria Shayne Baker
Gloria Shayne Baker
Gloria Shayne Baker was an American composer and songwriter best known for composing the "Do You Hear What I Hear?" Christmas carol in 1962 with her then husband, Noël Regney.-Early life:...
in 1962. Originally from Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
, France, he moved to New York City and then eventually Connecticut, where he lived out the remainder of his life. He is survived by his three children, Paul, Gabrielle, and Matthieu, and his ex-wife Dominique.
He was born Léon Schlienger in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Léon Schlienger, written backwards= Noël Regnei (-lhcS. dropping "lhcS"replacing i by y)= Noël Regney. He grew up Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
, but later became a Unitarian Universalist. He was drafted into the Nazi army despite being a Frenchman like many other "Malgré-nous
Malgré-nous
The term Malgré-nous refers to men of the Alsace-Lorraine region who were forcibly conscripted into the German Wehrmacht or in the Waffen SS, during the Second World War....
." As an Alsatian, he spoke the German dialect Alsatian
Alsatian language
Alsatian is a Low Alemannic German dialect spoken in most of Alsace, a region in eastern France which has passed between French and German control many times.-Language family:...
as fluently as French. It is said that he soon deserted, joined a group of French Resistance fighters, and became a double agent working for the French. He led a party of Nazis into an ambush, was shot in the arm, but survived. Eventually, while touring the USA, accompanying Lucienne Boyer
Lucienne Boyer
Lucienne Boyer was a French diseuse and singer, best known for her song "Parlez-moi d'amour". Her impresario was Bruno Coquatrix.-Early career:...
, contemporary of Édith Piaf
Édith Piaf
Édith Piaf , born Édith Giovanna Gassion, was a French singer and cultural icon who became widely regarded as France's greatest popular singer. Her singing reflected her life, with her specialty being ballads...
, he met his first wife pianist /composer Gloria Shayne with whom in 1962, he composed the famous Christmas song "Do You Hear What I Hear?"
In addition to "Do You Hear What I Hear?," Regney and Shayne composed "Rain, Rain, Go Away," "Sweet Little Darlin'," "Goodbye Cruel World
Goodbye Cruel World (James Darren song)
"Goodbye Cruel World" is a song written by Gloria Shayne Baker, who also wrote the well-known Christmas carol, "Do You Hear What I Hear?" and several songs for singer Lesley Gore. The most famous recording of this song is by James Darren. Released as a single in 1961, Darren scored his first top...
" (recorded by James Darren
James Darren
James William Ercolani , known by his stage name James Darren, is an American television and film actor, television director, and singer.-Career:...
in 1961) and "What's The Use of Crying." He led an ensemble that backed Kay Lande's vocals on For Sleepyheads Only. (1962) He wrote the English lyrics for The Singing Nun
The Singing Nun
Jeanine Deckers , known in English as The Singing Nun, was a Belgian nun, and a member of the Dominican Fichermont Convent in Belgium. She became internationally famous in 1963 as Sœur Sourire when she scored a hit with the song "Dominique"...
(Soeur Sourire)'s famous song "Dominique
Dominique
"Dominique" is a popular song in French by Sœur Sourire , of Belgium, also known as The Singing Nun. It is about Saint Dominic, a Spanish-born priest and founder of the Dominican Order, of which she was a member . The English version of the song was written by Noël Regney...
," the very name of his second wife, Dominique Gillain. Together they had a son Matthieu, born in 1982. Regney wrote the book and music for a musical biography of French writer Colette
Colette
Colette was the surname of the French novelist and performer Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette . She is best known for her novel Gigi, upon which Lerner and Loewe based the stage and film musical comedies of the same title.-Early life and marriage:Colette was born to retired military officer Jules-Joseph...
as well as other musicals: "Merrimount" and " Landsake". He knew the composers Darius Milhaud
Darius Milhaud
Darius Milhaud was a French composer and teacher. He was a member of Les Six—also known as The Group of Six—and one of the most prolific composers of the 20th century. His compositions are influenced by jazz and make use of polytonality...
and Arthur Honegger
Arthur Honegger
Arthur Honegger was a Swiss composer, who was born in France and lived a large part of his life in Paris. He was a member of Les six. His most frequently performed work is probably the orchestral work Pacific 231, which is interpreted as imitating the sound of a steam locomotive.-Biography:Born...
; studied with Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen was a French composer, organist and ornithologist, one of the major composers of the 20th century. His music is rhythmically complex ; harmonically and melodically it is based on modes of limited transposition, which he abstracted from his early compositions and improvisations...
; may have studied with Honegger, and worked at Le Lido
Le Lido
Le Lido is a cabaret and burlesque house on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, France, famous for its exotic shows, which rival those of Las Vegas and where Elvis Presley gave an impromptu concert...
in Paris. In the mid-1960s, he led a group known as the
Noel Regney Singers that released a children's album featuring folk songs in French and English
called "Songs that Help You Learn French", which is only availale on vinyl records. There was a Spanish-English version as well, but that one is much harder to find.
Noël died November 22, 2002, in Brewster, New York, of complications from Pick's disease
Pick's disease
Pick's disease, is a rare neurodegenerative disease that causes progressive destruction of nerve cells in the brain. Symptoms include loss of speech , and dementia. While some of the symptoms can initially be alleviated, the disease progresses and patients often die within two to ten years...
.