Michel Legrand
"Since a boy, my ambition was to live completely surrounded by music."
[1932 -] Accumulating several funçõs as composer, conductor, arranger and producer French artist Michel Legrand is one of the most admired musical talents of his generation. Son of songwriter Raymond Legrand, Michel studied with Nadia Boulanger. Graduated with a respectable knowledge in harmony, piano, fugue and counterpoint. In 1958, his album Legrand Jazz, accompanied by stars like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Herbie Mann, Bill Evans and Ben Webster, earned him a public and critic admiration.
The music for the film Les Amants du Tage (1955) directed by Henry Vernuill was his first soundtrack for cinema. Following it came Lola (1961) a median success in his career. Finally Legrand have international recognition with the successful musicals of Jacques Demy like Les Parapluies of Cherbough (1964), Las Demoseilles of Rochefort (1966) and Peau D'Anne (1971). The success of its refined melodies, and the sophisticated arrangements, led him naturally to be invited to work in the US market. Legrand moved to Los Angeles in 1968 and diversified his work in the orchestral music for Ice Station Zebra (1968), The Castle Keep (1969) and Wuthering Heights (1970). Would still write great jazz soundtracks, such as Thomas Crown Affair (1968), whose main theme The Windmills of Your Mind is one of the most representative successes of his career. Won an Oscar for Summer of 42 (1972). Following work would continue confirming his great talent as a melodist and arranger: The Go-Between (1971), Breezy (1973), The Three Musketeers (1974), The Other Side of Midnight (1977), a Love in Germany (1982), Yentl (1982), Les Uns et Les Otres (1982 with Francis Lai), Never Say Never Again (1983) and Partir Revenir (1985).
Even with the consolidated career, Legrand avoided to stop, always searching for new partnerships, new contacts and productions. Approached the classical music market or writing for ballets, Legrand also remains active with international concerts.
