| Intro | French easy listening orchestra leader, arranger and composer |
| Was |
Musician Conductor Composer Pianist Film score composer |
| From | France |
| Type |
Film, TV, Stage & Radio Music |
| Gender | male |
| Birth | 20 November 1929, Calais |
| Death |
27 June 2008, Seine-Port (aged 78 years) |
| Star sign | Scorpio |
Raymond Lefèvre (November 20, 1929 – June 27, 2008) was a French easy listening orchestra leader, arranger and composer.
Biography and career
Born on November 20, 1929 in Calais, France, Raymond Lefèvre is best known for his 1968 theme “Soul Coaxing (Ame Caline)”, which became an international hit. He also wrote soundtracks for movies with Louis de Funès such as La Soupe Aux Choux (1981) or the legendary series Le Gendarme de Saint Tropez. During the late 1950s and early 1960s he accompanied Dalida on most of her recordings (Bambino, Por Favor, Tu peux tout faire de moi, Quand on n’a que l’amour), amongst many others. He started his musical career in 1956 on the Barclay Records label.
Early career
He was accepted at the Paris Conservatory when 17 years old. During the early 1950s he played the piano for the Franck Pourcel orchestra. In 1953 he played the piano at the Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. He started his musical career in 1956 on the Barclay label and recorded his debut album that year.
He worked on the French television programmes Musicorama (1950s) and Palmarés des Chansons (1965, 1966, 1967) accompanying such famous artists as Dalida, Claude François, Richard Anthony, with his own orchestra.
His recording of “The Day the Rains Came” was a best seller in the United States in 1958. The song “Ame câline” (Soul Coaxing) became an international hit in 1968 and “La La La (He Gives Me Love)” was a minor hit in 1968 in Canada and the United States. In 1969 his recording of “La Reine de Saba” (Queen of Sheba) became a big hit in Japan. From 1972 until the early 2000s (decade), he undertook several successful tours of Japan.
He worked on the soundtracks of many Louis de Funès movies.
Eurovision
Lefèvre conducted entries four times at the Eurovision Song Contest, three times for Monaco (in 1961 [1], 1962 [2], and 1963 [3]) and once for Luxembourg (in 1970 [4]).
Death
Raymond Lefèvre died on June 27, 2008 at the age of 78.
Discography
Film Music (excerpt)
- 1957 – Fric-frac en dentelles with Peter van Eyck.
- 1964 – Le gendarme de St. Tropez
- 1965 – Le gendarme à New York (with Paul Mauriat)
- 1967 – Les grandes vacances
- 1968 – Le gendarme se marie
- 1970 – Le gendarme en balade
- 1979 – Le gendarme et les extra-terrestres
- 1981 – La soupe aux choux
- 1982 – Le gendarme et les gendarmettes
Records
- 1965 – Palmares des Chansons
- 1966 – Palmares des Chansons No.2
- 1967 – Palmares des Chansons No.3
- 1967 – Palmares des Chansons No.4
- 1967 – Raymond Lefevre No.5
- 1968 – Raymond Lefevre No.6
- 1968 – Raymond Lefevre No.7
- 1968 – Joyeux Noels
- 1968 – Raymond Lefevre No.9
- 1969 – Raymond Lefevre No.10
- 1969 – Musique de Films
- 1970 – Raymond Lefevre No.12
- 1970 – Concerto pour une Voix
- 1971 – Raymond Lefevre No.13
- 1971 – Soul Symphonies
- 1972 – Raymond Lefevre No.14
- 1972 – Raymond Lefevre No.15
- 1972 – Raymond Lefevre No.16
- 1972 – Live in Japan 1972
- 1973 – Festival de San Remo 1973
- 1973 – Soul Symphonies No.2
- 1973 – Raymond Lefevre No.17
- 1974 – Raymond Lefevre No.18
- 1974 – Raymond Lefevre No.19
- 1974 – Live in Japan 1974
- 1975 – Raymond Lefevre No.20
- 1976 – Raymond Lefevre No.21
- 1976 – French Love in Hi-Fi
- 1976 – Les Plus Grands Succes 76
- 1977 – Rock and Rhythm in Hi-Fi
- 1977 – Love in Stereo No.1
- 1977 – Live in Japan 1977
- 1978 – Festival des Meilleurs Musiques des Films
- 1978 – Soul Symphonies No.3
- 1978 – Holiday Symphonies
- 1979 – Live in Japan 1978
- 1979 – Tomorrow’s Symphonies du Futur
- 1980 – Concerto
- 1981 – Suite Latine
- 1982 – Demonstration
- 1982 – Operamania
- 1983 – Digital Parade
- 1984 – Lefevre Meets Chiharu
- 1984 – Les Plus Grands Succes de Julio Iglesias
- 1984 – Live in Japan 1984
- 1984 – Plays Chinese Songs
- 1986 – Back to Bach
- 1988 – Music of the Night
- 1989 – Mull of Kintyre
- 1991 – Canzone
- 1993 – Sous le ciel de Paris
- 1995 – Plein Soleil
- 1995 – Autumnal Player (When Richard Meets Raymond)
- 1995 – Japon Mon Amour (with Richard Clayderman)
- 1998 – Lacrima Cristi
- 2002 – De Temps en Temps
- 2010 – A Mon Pere