Francis Lai

Francis Lai (b. 1932) was born in Nice, France. He has taken piano lessons since childhood. Being attracted by the jazz he leaves for Paris when only twenty years of age. He plays at the clubs and at the famous night club Attilio’s Tavern in Montmartre. There he meets Bernard Dimes for whom he has written more than 100 songs. He works with the Orchestra of Michel Manet, accompanies and writes songs for Edith Piaf, Ives Montain and others. In 1964 he writes the music to the film La Ronde of the director Roger Vadim. Two years later he creates the film score A Man and A Woman of the director Claude Lelouch. The film receives international acclaim and a nomination for Golden Globe. Francis Lai starts working not only with French but also with British and American directors. In 1970 he wins Oscar and Golden Globe for the soundtrack to the film Love Story. (The famous song from the film is recorded with H. Mancini and Sh. Bessy.) Francis Lai is the author of the music for more than 100 films: Happy New Year!, Love under the Rain, My Best Friend’s Wedding, A Meeting with an Angel, Les Miserables, Oliver’s Story, And Now, My Love. He is a winner of and has been nominated three times for the Cesar Award, nominated once for Grammy and twice for BAFTA.