Richard Clayderman
Encyclopedia
Richard Clayderman
Richard Clayderman (born Philippe Pagès, 28 December 1953, Paris
, France
) 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 classical music.
At the age of twelve, he was accepted into the Conservatoire de Paris
, where he won great acclaim in his later adolescent years. Financial difficulties, not the least precipitated by his father's illness, forestalled a promising career as a classical pianist. So in order to earn a living, he found work as a bank clerk and as an accompanist to contemporary bands. He accompanied French singers such as Johnny Hallyday
, Thierry Le Luron
, and Michel Sardou
.
, a French record producer
, and his partner Paul de Senneville
, to record a gentle piano ballad. de Senneville had composed this ballad as a tribute to his new daughter "Adeline". The 23-year-old Pagès was auditioned along with 20 other pianists and got the job. "He was an interesting musician with a soft touch and good technique", said Toussaint. "And he looked good, too".
Pagès' name was changed to Richard Clayderman (he adopted his great-grandmother's last name to avoid mispronunciation of his real name outside France), and the single took off, selling 22 million copies in 38 countries. It was called "Ballade pour Adeline
".
He lives in Saint-Ouen (near Paris) with his wife Christine, his son Peter, and his daughter Maud.
Richard Clayderman (born Philippe Pagès, 28 December 1953, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, 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...
) is a French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
who has released numerous albums including the compositions of Paul de Senneville
Paul de Senneville
Paul de Senneville is a French melody composer and a music producer.-Career:He began his career as a journalist working for big French newspapers such as France Soir...
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...
, instrumental renditions of popular music, rearrangements of movie soundtracks, ethnic music, and easy-listening arrangements of most popular works of classical music.
Early life
Clayderman learned piano from his father, a piano teacher.At the age of twelve, he was accepted into the Conservatoire de Paris
Conservatoire de Paris
The Conservatoire de Paris is a college of music and dance founded in 1795, now situated in the avenue Jean Jaurès in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France...
, where he won great acclaim in his later adolescent years. Financial difficulties, not the least precipitated by his father's illness, forestalled a promising career as a classical pianist. So in order to earn a living, he found work as a bank clerk and as an accompanist to contemporary bands. He accompanied French singers such as Johnny Hallyday
Johnny Hallyday
Johnny Hallyday is a French singer and actor. An icon in the French-speaking world since the beginning of his career, he was considered by some to have been the French Elvis Presley. He was married for 15 years to one of the most popular French female singers: Sylvie Vartan...
, Thierry Le Luron
Thierry Le Luron
Thierry Le Luron was a French impersonator and humorist.-External links:*...
, and Michel Sardou
Michel Sardou
Michel Sardou is a French singer.He was born in Paris, the son of Fernand Sardou and Jackie Rollin . Contrary to claims common towards the beginning of his career, he is not the grandson of the dramatist Victorien Sardou...
.
"Ballade pour Adeline"
In 1976, he was invited by 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...
, a French record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, and his partner Paul de Senneville
Paul de Senneville
Paul de Senneville is a French melody composer and a music producer.-Career:He began his career as a journalist working for big French newspapers such as France Soir...
, to record a gentle piano ballad. de Senneville had composed this ballad as a tribute to his new daughter "Adeline". The 23-year-old Pagès was auditioned along with 20 other pianists and got the job. "He was an interesting musician with a soft touch and good technique", said Toussaint. "And he looked good, too".
Pagès' name was changed to Richard Clayderman (he adopted his great-grandmother's last name to avoid mispronunciation of his real name outside France), and the single took off, selling 22 million copies in 38 countries. It was called "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...
".
Success
Clayderman has recorded over 1,300 melodies, and has created a new romantic style through a repertoire which combines his trademark originals with classics and pop standards. He has devoted much of his time to performing concerts, going as far as playing 200 shows in 250 days. He has clocked up worldwide record sales of approximately 70 million, , and 267 gold and 70 platinum discs to his credit. He is popular in Asia and is noted by the Guinness Book of World Records as being "the most successful pianist in the world".He lives in Saint-Ouen (near Paris) with his wife Christine, his son Peter, and his daughter Maud.
Discography
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External links
- Official website
- [ His biography]
- Play Album of Richard Clayderman
- Richard Clayderman