Paul de Senneville
Encyclopedia
Paul de Senneville is a French melody composer (melodist) and a music producer.
. Later, he became a TV program producer as well.
After writing his first song in 1962, he contributed music for songs in many movie soundtracks produced by French companies such as Univers Galaxie and Daber Films. In 1968, while managing Michel Polnareff
's career, he met Olivier Toussaint
, forming a successful songwriting partnership. with songs were recorded by major French artists such as: Mireille Mathieu
, Michèle Torr, Christophe
, Hervé Vilard, Dalida
, Petula Clark
and Claude François
. This partnership accounts for over 100 million records sold internationally. Partnering with lyricist Jean-Loup Dabadie
, he wrote Tous les bateaux, tous les oiseaux, a French hit recorded by Michel Polnareff
.
Very soon, they also got involved in Production business. They started up the group Pop Concerto Orchestra. which Olivier Toussaint
sang as a lead singer there. Soon after, they launched their second group Anarchic System
that produced Rock & roll music. Over a period of 5 years, both groups sold several millions of records.
. The triumph of the song Dolannes Melody launched the trumpet player, Jean-Claude Borelly
. The song went to first place in the charts of most European countries very quickly; first in France, Switzerland, Belgium and then in Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands. It was also in the first place in South America and later in Japan.
in 1978, he was represented in both France and Monaco in the Eurovision Song Contest 1978 by his composition, Les jardins de Monaco
as a duet song. He has also won prestigious awards such as César Award
(the French equivalent of the Oscar) for his movie scores. He is bestowed Comte
title—a title of French nobility.
Besides Jean-Claude Borelly
, they discovered French instrumentalists such as Richard Clayderman
(1976), Nicolas de Angelis
(1981) and Diego Modena (1991).
Paul de Senneville and Olivier Toussaint
collaborated with famous French arrangers like: Gérard Salesses, Hervé Roy, Bruno Ribera, and Marc Minier. Their main music productions was devoted to Richard Clayderman
music.
Ballade pour Adeline
, A comme Amour and Letter to my Mother are the biggest hits in Richard Clayderman
recordings. These melodies are originally composed by Paul de Senneville. He has composed around 400 melodies for Richard Clayderman
. Olivier Toussaint
and Jean Baudlot
are his co-workers in composing melodies.
Nowadays, the Delphine group represent 15 companies dealing with various activities: an advertising film and clip production company, an agency for advertising and casting actors and a casting agency as well as two modelling agencies. Delphine Records
is one of the companies with 30 employees. They have 4 recording studios in the "hotel particulier" close to the Champs Elysées.
is one of his favorites. He is very interested in collecting modern paintings and antique objects. In his house, he sits on a 18th-century armchair and owns a horse statue made by Salvador Dalí
.
He is interested in horse racing. L'Amiral Mauzun is a horse race of the French team of Jean-Philippe Ducher. Paul was its owner-breeder. He won many prestigious race prizes, including the Elitloppet
in 2007.
It is said that Paul de Senneville can never read, write, or even play music; nevertheless, his natural talent and creativity of composing pure melodies has made him a professional worldwide musician. He sings his inspired melodies into a small tape recorder at home or in his studio. Then he calls a pianist (or an arranger) to help him take out the melody notes. After arranging, they go to studio and record it with an orchestra.
Career
He began his career as a journalist working for big French newspapers such as France SoirFrance Soir
France Soir is a French daily newspaper that prospered during the 1950s and 1960s, but it has declined since then under various owners. It was re-launched as a populist tabloid in 2006.-History:...
. Later, he became a TV program producer as well.
Music career
As a director of a record company, Disc AZ, he started a new career on the basis of his passion in life: music.After writing his first song in 1962, he contributed music for songs in many movie soundtracks produced by French companies such as Univers Galaxie and Daber Films. In 1968, while managing Michel Polnareff
Michel Polnareff
Michel Polnareff, born in Nérac on 3 July 1944, is a French singer-songwriter who was very popular from the mid-1960s until the early 1980s...
's career, he met Olivier Toussaint
Olivier Toussaint
Olivier Toussaint is a French composer, pop singer, orchestra arranger, company manager, and record producer.-Early life:He was born in Paris, in a family of classical musicians. His great-grandfather, Gilbert Duprez was a very well known Opera singer...
, forming a successful songwriting partnership. with songs were recorded by major French artists such as: 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...
, Michèle Torr, Christophe
Christophe
- As mononym/pseudonym :* Christophe , French comic strip artist and botanist* Christophe , French singer* Christophe , Belgian hairstylist- As first name :* Christophe Barratier, French filmmaker...
, Hervé Vilard, 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...
, Petula Clark
Petula Clark
Petula Clark, CBE is an English singer, actress, and composer whose career has spanned seven decades.Clark's professional career began as an entertainer on BBC Radio during World War II...
and Claude François
Claude François
Claude François was a French pop singer, songwriter and dancer. He wrote "Comme d'habitude," the original version of "My Way."-Early life:...
. This partnership accounts for over 100 million records sold internationally. Partnering with lyricist Jean-Loup Dabadie
Jean-Loup Dabadie
Jean-Loup Dabadie is a French journalist, writer, lyricist, award-winning screenwriter and member of the Académie Française.-Selected filmography:* Anna * Such a Gorgeous Kid Like Me -Awards:...
, he wrote Tous les bateaux, tous les oiseaux, a French hit recorded by Michel Polnareff
Michel Polnareff
Michel Polnareff, born in Nérac on 3 July 1944, is a French singer-songwriter who was very popular from the mid-1960s until the early 1980s...
.
Very soon, they also got involved in Production business. They started up the group Pop Concerto Orchestra. which Olivier Toussaint
Olivier Toussaint
Olivier Toussaint is a French composer, pop singer, orchestra arranger, company manager, and record producer.-Early life:He was born in Paris, in a family of classical musicians. His great-grandfather, Gilbert Duprez was a very well known Opera singer...
sang as a lead singer there. Soon after, they launched their second group Anarchic System
Anarchic System
Anarchic System was a French band formed in the early 70's.The former members were parts of other groups from the rock scene of northern France. They were in good friendship when the opportunity of recording the "Popcorn" cover was given to them by Paul de Senneville in 1972. They were chosen...
that produced Rock & roll music. Over a period of 5 years, both groups sold several millions of records.
Success
1975 was a big success for both Paul de Senneville and Olivier ToussaintOlivier Toussaint
Olivier Toussaint is a French composer, pop singer, orchestra arranger, company manager, and record producer.-Early life:He was born in Paris, in a family of classical musicians. His great-grandfather, Gilbert Duprez was a very well known Opera singer...
. The triumph of the song Dolannes Melody launched the trumpet player, Jean-Claude Borelly
Jean-Claude Borelly
-Background:At the age of seven he developed a passion for the trumpet after discovering Louis Armstrong on television.He met a prominent trumpeter of the Paris Opera who touched by his fascination for the trumpet, introduced him to the instrument and accompanies all during his studies at the...
. The song went to first place in the charts of most European countries very quickly; first in France, Switzerland, Belgium and then in Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands. It was also in the first place in South America and later in Japan.
in 1978, he was represented in both France and Monaco in the Eurovision Song Contest 1978 by his composition, Les jardins de Monaco
Les Jardins De Monaco
"Les jardins de Monaco" was the Monegasque entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1978, performed in French by French duo Caline & Olivier Toussaint....
as a duet song. He has also won prestigious awards such as César Award
César Award
The César Award is the national film award of France, first given out in 1975. The nominations are selected by the members of the Académie des arts et techniques du cinéma....
(the French equivalent of the Oscar) for his movie scores. He is bestowed Comte
Comte
Comte is a title of Catalan, Occitan and French nobility. In the English language, the title is equivalent to count, a rank in several European nobilities. The corresponding rank in England is earl...
title—a title of French nobility.
Delphine Productions
In 1976, Paul and his partner Olivier set up their own record company, Delphine Productions that was named after Paul's first daughter, "Delphine Deschodt". Delphine Productions is one of the leading French music exporters to the world market. It is also the only company specializing in instrumental music.Besides Jean-Claude Borelly
Jean-Claude Borelly
-Background:At the age of seven he developed a passion for the trumpet after discovering Louis Armstrong on television.He met a prominent trumpeter of the Paris Opera who touched by his fascination for the trumpet, introduced him to the instrument and accompanies all during his studies at the...
, they discovered French instrumentalists such as Richard Clayderman
Richard Clayderman
Richard Clayderman is a French pianist who has released numerous albums including the compositions of Paul de Senneville and Olivier Toussaint, instrumental renditions of popular music, rearrangements of movie soundtracks, ethnic music, and easy-listening arrangements of most popular works of...
(1976), Nicolas de Angelis
Nicolas de Angelis
-Early years:Born in Saint-Cloud, a west Parisian suburb along the shores of the Seine River, de Angelis studied guitar at the Paris Academy from the age of ten....
(1981) and Diego Modena (1991).
Paul de Senneville and Olivier Toussaint
Olivier Toussaint
Olivier Toussaint is a French composer, pop singer, orchestra arranger, company manager, and record producer.-Early life:He was born in Paris, in a family of classical musicians. His great-grandfather, Gilbert Duprez was a very well known Opera singer...
collaborated with famous French arrangers like: Gérard Salesses, Hervé Roy, Bruno Ribera, and Marc Minier. Their main music productions was devoted to Richard Clayderman
Richard Clayderman
Richard Clayderman is a French pianist who has released numerous albums including the compositions of Paul de Senneville and Olivier Toussaint, instrumental renditions of popular music, rearrangements of movie soundtracks, ethnic music, and easy-listening arrangements of most popular works of...
music.
Ballade pour Adeline
Ballade pour Adeline
"Ballade pour Adeline" is a 1976 instrumental composed by Paul de Senneville and Olivier Toussaint. Paul de Senneville composed the piece as a tribute to his newborn daughter, Adeline. The first recording was by Richard Clayderman and world-wide sales now have reached 22 million copies in 38...
, A comme Amour and Letter to my Mother are the biggest hits in Richard Clayderman
Richard Clayderman
Richard Clayderman is a French pianist who has released numerous albums including the compositions of Paul de Senneville and Olivier Toussaint, instrumental renditions of popular music, rearrangements of movie soundtracks, ethnic music, and easy-listening arrangements of most popular works of...
recordings. These melodies are originally composed by Paul de Senneville. He has composed around 400 melodies for Richard Clayderman
Richard Clayderman
Richard Clayderman is a French pianist who has released numerous albums including the compositions of Paul de Senneville and Olivier Toussaint, instrumental renditions of popular music, rearrangements of movie soundtracks, ethnic music, and easy-listening arrangements of most popular works of...
. Olivier Toussaint
Olivier Toussaint
Olivier Toussaint is a French composer, pop singer, orchestra arranger, company manager, and record producer.-Early life:He was born in Paris, in a family of classical musicians. His great-grandfather, Gilbert Duprez was a very well known Opera singer...
and Jean Baudlot
Jean Baudlot
Jean Baudlot is a French music composer , most notable for composing music for videogames in the 80's/90's and collaborations with Richard Clayderman, Nicolas de Angelis, Michèle Torr and Joe Dassin...
are his co-workers in composing melodies.
Nowadays, the Delphine group represent 15 companies dealing with various activities: an advertising film and clip production company, an agency for advertising and casting actors and a casting agency as well as two modelling agencies. Delphine Records
Delphine Records
Delphine Records or Delphine Productins is a French record label, founded in 1976 by French composer Paul de Senneville and his partner Olivier Toussaint-History:...
is one of the companies with 30 employees. They have 4 recording studios in the "hotel particulier" close to the Champs Elysées.
Personal life
Paul de Senneville enjoys classical music. Giuseppe VerdiGiuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century...
is one of his favorites. He is very interested in collecting modern paintings and antique objects. In his house, he sits on a 18th-century armchair and owns a horse statue made by Salvador Dalí
Salvador Dalí
Salvador Domènec Felip Jacint Dalí i Domènech, Marquis de Púbol , commonly known as Salvador Dalí , was a prominent Spanish Catalan surrealist painter born in Figueres,Spain....
.
He is interested in horse racing. L'Amiral Mauzun is a horse race of the French team of Jean-Philippe Ducher. Paul was its owner-breeder. He won many prestigious race prizes, including the Elitloppet
Elitloppet
Elitloppet or Solvallas Internationella Elitlopp is an annual, invitational Group One harness event that has taken place at Solvalla Racetrack in Stockholm, Sweden since 1952. The competition is regarded as one of the most prestigious international events in trotting...
in 2007.
It is said that Paul de Senneville can never read, write, or even play music; nevertheless, his natural talent and creativity of composing pure melodies has made him a professional worldwide musician. He sings his inspired melodies into a small tape recorder at home or in his studio. Then he calls a pianist (or an arranger) to help him take out the melody notes. After arranging, they go to studio and record it with an orchestra.