Michel Legrand is a renowned French composer, conductor, and pianist who has made significant contributions to the world of music. Born on February 24, 1932, in Becon-les-Bruyeres, Paris suburbs, France, Legrand comes from a family of musicians. His father, Raymond Legrand, was a French composer and actor, while his mother, Marcelle der Mikaelian, was of Armenian descent.
Legrand's early life was marked by a strong passion for music. He began studying piano at the Paris Conservatoire in 1942, under the tutelage of renowned musicians such as Nadia Boulanger and Henri Challan. He received numerous awards for his composition and piano skills, and mastered a dozen other instruments.
In 1947, Legrand attended a concert by Dizzy Gillespie, which sparked his interest in jazz. He began working as a pianist for major French singers and eventually collaborated with Gillespie on several albums and film scores.
Legrand's breakthrough came in 1954 with the release of his album "I Love Paris," which became a huge hit, selling over 8 million copies. He went on to release several successful albums, including "Holiday in Rome" (1955) and "Michel Legrand Plays Cole Porter" (1957).
In the late 1950s and 1960s, Legrand was involved in the French New Wave movement, scoring films for directors such as Jean-Luc Godard and Jacques Demy. He also created the genre of musical in French cinema.
In 1963, Legrand composed the score for "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg," which was the first film musical to be entirely sung. He received three Oscar nominations for the score, including Best Original Song for the haunting melody "I Will Wait for You."
Legrand moved to Los Angeles in 1966, where he became a prominent figure in the American music scene. He won his first Oscar in 1969 for Best Music, Original Song for "The Windmills of Your Mind" and received two more Oscars throughout his career.
Throughout his life, Legrand has been recognized for his contributions to music, receiving 12 Academy Award nominations and winning two Oscars. He has also been nominated for 27 Grammys and has won five. Legrand has continued to give live concerts and has led his big band on several international tours, accompanying stars such as Ray Charles, Diana Ross, and Björk.
In the 2000s, Legrand has focused on studio work and has made several international tours. In 2005, a compilation of his best-known film soundtracks was released under the title "Le Cinema de Michel Legrand," featuring 90 songs composed throughout his career.
