Raymond Legrand

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Raymond Legrand (born May 23, 1908 in Paris , † November 25, 1974 in Nanterre ) was a French orchestra conductor, arranger and composer.

Career

Legrand was a student of Gabriel Fauré at the National Conservatory in Paris. He spent a few years in the USA with Paul Whiteman and then worked as an arranger for the Ray Ventura orchestra (and other orchestras) before founding his own orchestra during the German occupation, which in many cases consisted of musicians from the former Ray Ventura orchestra (who had to emigrate). The singer in it was his wife Irène de Trébert , ( Mademoiselle Swing ). He partially collaborated with the German occupation, but that did not harm him permanently after the war. He later accompanied Maurice Chevalier , Georges Guétary , Édith Piaf , Colette Renard (whom he also married, she was his secretary before), Fernandel , the Soeurs Étienne and Tino Rossi . He wrote numerous film scores such as for Mademoiselle Swing by Richard Pottier (1942). In 1948 he became the Artistic Director of Decca.

He was also a saxophonist.

Private life

In 1929 he married the sister Marcelle Der Mikaëlian of the orchestra conductor Jacques Hélian . They had their children Christiane Legrand from the Swingle Singers and Michel Legrand , himself a well-known orchestra conductor and composer. He married several more times. Other children are the writer Benjamin Legrand and the painter Olivier Legrand.

Filmography

  • 1947: The Unknown Singer (Le chanteur inconnu)
  • 1947: Look into the Dark (Vertiges)
  • 1948: Tomorrow begins the adventure (L'aventure commence demain)
  • 1950: accuse me! (Meurtres)
  • 1950: jury court (Justice est faite)
  • 1952: We are all murderers (Nous sommes tous des assassins)
  • 1953: Public enemy No. 1 (L'ennemi public n ° 1)
  • 1953: my wife cheats on me (Carnaval)
  • 1953: The baker of Valorgue (Le boulanger de Valorgue)
  • 1953: companions of the night; aka: The girls of the Rue d'Amour (Les compagnes de la nuit)
  • 1954: Fiery blood, wild passion (Sang et lumières)

literature

  • Louis-Jean Calvet: Cent ans de chanson française, L'Archipel 2006

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Legrand, Raymond
BRIEF DESCRIPTION French orchestra leader and composer
DATE OF BIRTH May 23, 1908
PLACE OF BIRTH Paris
DATE OF DEATH November 25, 1974
Place of death Nanterre