Francis Lai

Francis Lai

  • Birthday: 1932-04-26
  • Deathday: 2018-11-07
  • Place of birth: Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France
  • Also know as: Francis Laï

Biography

Francis Albert Lai (26 April 1932 – 7 November 2018) was a French composer, noted for his film scores. He won the 1970 Oscar for Best Music, Original Score and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score for the film Love Story. The soundtrack album went to No. 2 in the Billboard album charts and the film's theme, "Where Do I Begin", was a hit single for Andy Williams. Lai was born on 26 April 1932, in Nice, France, the son of market gardeners of Italian origin. From a very early age, Lai was fascinated by music and he played first in his local regional orchestras. In Marseilles he discovered jazz and met Claude Goaty, a singer of popular songs in the 50s. While in his twenties, Lai left home and followed Goaty to Paris, where he became part of the lively Montmartre music scene. The "Taverne d'Attilio" on the Place du Tertre in Montmartre, was a favorite place for the young talented Bernard Dimey with whom Lai composed his first song. Their song-writing partnership would extend to a hundred or so. After a short period with the orchestra of Michel Magne, Lai became an accompanist for Édith Piaf and composed for her. In 1965, he met filmmaker Claude Lelouch and was hired to help write the score for the film A Man and a Woman. Released in 1966, the film was an international success, earning a number of Academy Awards. The young Lai received a Golden Globe Award nomination for "Best Original Score". This initial success brought more opportunities to work for the film industry both in his native France, where he continued to work with Lelouch on scores to films such as Vivre pour vivre (1967), Un homme qui me plaît (1969), Le voyou (1970) and La bonne année (1973), as well as in Great Britain and the United States. He was known for his support of Mireille Mathieu in many compositions and recordings. In 1970 he wrote the score for director René Clément's film, Rider on the Rain ("Le passager de la pluie"). It sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc in September 1971. In 1970, Lai won the Academy Award for Best Music, Original Score and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score for the film Love Story. In the United States, the soundtrack album reached No. 2 in the Billboard album charts and the film's theme, "Where Do I Begin", was a hit single with lyrics by Carl Sigman for singer Andy Williams. The song would also be recorded successfully by Lai himself, with a full orchestra, and by Henry Mancini and Shirley Bassey. Lai's "Love Story" theme was heard in the 1978 Love Story sequel titled Oliver's Story, although the main score was composed by Lee Holdridge. ... Source: Article "Francis Lai" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Filmography

Smic, Smac, Smoc

1971

As Blind Accordionist

Shoot to Live

2022

As Self

D'un film à l'autre

2011

As Self (archive footage)

Production

Hello-Goodbye

1970

As Original Music Composer

My New Partner

1984

As Original Music Composer

The Good and the Bad

1976

As Original Music Composer

House of Cards

1968

As Original Music Composer

Life Love Death

1969

As Music

Love Story

1970

As Music

A Man and a Woman

1966

As Original Music Composer

Lost Soul

1977

As Original Music Composer

Itinerary of a Spoiled Child

1988

As Original Music Composer

Marriage

1974

As Original Music Composer

Too Beautiful for You

1989

As Original Music Composer

There Were Days... and Moons

1990

As Original Music Composer

Love Is a Funny Thing

1969

As Original Music Composer

And Hope to Die

1972

As Original Music Composer

Happy New Year

1973

As Original Music Composer

Chance or Coincidence

1998

As Original Music Composer

The Courage to Love

2005

As Original Music Composer

Us Two

1979

As Original Music Composer

Cat and Mouse

1975

As Original Music Composer

A Man and a Woman: 20 Years Later

1986

As Original Music Composer

Men, Women: A User's Manual

1996

As Original Music Composer

Live for Life

1967

As Original Music Composer

I Believe in Santa Claus

1984

As Original Music Composer

Bandits

1987

As Original Music Composer

Tom Thumb

1972

As Music

Rider on the Rain

1970

As Original Music Composer

We Love You, You Bastard

2014

As Original Music Composer

Robert et Robert

1978

As Music

Dog Day

1984

As Music

Bolero: Dance of Life

1981

As Music

Un + une

2015

As Original Music Composer

And Now My Love

1974

As Music

3 Into 2 Won't Go

1969

As Original Music Composer

Widows' Nest

1977

As Music

Plastic Tree

2003

As Music

Eyes Full of Sun

1970

As Original Music Composer

Madame Claude 2

1981

As Music

Reigen

1973

As Original Music Composer

Berlin Affair

1970

As Music

Snows of Grenoble

1968

As Music

Smic, Smac, Smoc

1971

As Music

Money Money Money

1972

As Music

My New Partner II

1990

As Original Music Composer

Striptease

1976

As Original Music Composer

No More God, No More Love

1985

As Original Music Composer

Bernadette

1988

As Music

Tender Moment

1968

As Original Music Composer

Beyond the Reef

1979

As Original Music Composer

The Body of My Enemy

1976

As Music

The Modification

1970

As Music

Salut la puce

1983

As Music

The Legend of Frenchie King

1971

As Original Music Composer

The Best Years of a Life

2019

As Original Music Composer

Türkiye

1977

As Music

Marie

1985

As Original Music Composer

Dust in the Sun

1972

As Music

Action Man

1967

As Original Music Composer

Edith and Marcel

1983

As Original Music Composer

Wunderland

1983

As Music

Keys to Freedom

1988

As Music

Bernadette

1988

As Original Music Composer

My Love, My Love

1967

As Original Music Composer

International Velvet

1978

As Original Music Composer

Un amour de pluie

1974

As Original Music Composer

Fragilité, ton nom est femme

1965

As Original Music Composer

D'un film à l'autre

2011

As Original Music Composer

Amore e libertà - Masaniello

2006

As Original Music Composer

Les Hommes

1973

As Original Music Composer

The Games

1970

As Original Music Composer

Shoot to Live

2022

As Music

Stranger in the House

1992

As Music

The Sex Symbol

1974

As Music

I'll Be Going Now

1991

As Original Music Composer

Child Under A Leaf

1974

As Original Music Composer

Les Miserables

1995

As Original Music Composer

The Crook

1970

As Original Music Composer

Dark Eyes

1987

As Original Music Composer

13 Days in France

1968

As Original Music Composer

Boarding School

1978

As Music

The Beautiful Story

1992

As Original Music Composer

The Baby Sitter

1975

As Original Music Composer

Mayerling

1968

As Original Music Composer

Iran

1971

As Original Music Composer

Another Man, Another Chance

1977

As Original Music Composer

All That... for This?!

1993

As Original Music Composer

What War May Bring

2010

As Original Music Composer

Hannibal Brooks

1969

As Original Music Composer

Le Voleur et la menteuse

1993

As Original Music Composer

Bilitis

1977

As Original Music Composer

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