Europe 1 with AFP 3:48 p.m., March 5, 2024

This Tuesday, the composer of Claude François' hits, Jean-Pierre Bourtayre, died at the age of 82, indicates the Society of Authors, Composers and Music Publishers (Sacem) of which he was vice-president. honor.

Jean-Pierre Bourtayre, composer of hits by Claude François, such as "Alexandrie Alexandra", died at the age of 82, we learned Tuesday from Sacem (Society of Authors, Composers and Music Publishers) of which he was vice-president. -honorary president.

We also owe him the melodies of “Y’a le Principle Qui Chant”, “Le Telephone Cry”, “Magnolias for Ever”.

This last title, with “Alexandrie Alexandra”, marks a turning point in the career of Claude François.

A strong understanding between the two men

“In 1977, Claude, who was on the lookout for everything that was happening in music, wanted to launch into the disco style,” explained the composer to Sacem, which paid tribute to him on Tuesday on its site.

“At the beginning, he intended to sing in English, but I dissuaded him, because there were already Sheila and Patrick Juvet: he was not going to be the third.”

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It was Jean-Pierre Bourtayre who suggested that Etienne Roda-Gil write lyrics for the singer, including "Magnolias for Ever" and "Alexandrie Alexandra".

Etienne Roda-Gil "was not at all enthusiastic, but I managed to organize a meeting and they got along very well", remembered Jean-Pierre Bourtayre.

“However, one feared ending up with a restless goofball, the other with a boring intellectual…”.

A “big name in French song”

This composer was the son of a composer: his father, Henri Bourtayre, signed music for Tino Rossi, Luis Mariano and Maurice Chevalier.

The son first composed original themes for Dick Rivers and Eddy Mitchell.

Then there was Françoise Hardy, France Gall, Richard Anthony and Marie Laforêt.

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The man who was also artistic director of Barclay records, composed the theme of "A bench, a tree, a street" which allowed the French singer Séverine to win Eurovision in 1971. He is also the one who found the credits notes from a TV series on Arsène Lupine sung by Jacques Dutronc ("Gentleman burglar").

"I salute this great name in French song (...). His work will remain eternally in our collective memory", indicates Christine Lidon, president of the Sacem board of directors, on the institution's website.