Paul Mauriat (1925-2006), was a French Orchestral conductor. India’s one of the greatest composers ever, Illayaraja, in one his books, referred Mauriat as “Father of Light Music”. As a child, Paul Mauriat was fascinated by Jazz music. Though he was a composer of merit, he became worldwide popular as an arranger by re-recording the greatest hits.
Paul Mauriat co-composed the song Chariot with his friend Franck Pourcel under a Pseudonym and it became a hit in 1962. In the United States, this song was recorded as I will follow him by Little Peggy March and became #1 on Billboard charts in all the three categories for three weeks in 1963.
I will follow him –
This song was featured in Sister Act in 1992!
Paul Mauriat, in 1965, established Le Grand Orchestre de Paul Mauriat and released hundreds of recordings. His arrangement for “Love is blue”, topped #1 for 5 weeks on Billboard Hot 100 and it is the only one number one hit by any French artist!!
Paul Mauriat himself is conducting:
Other songs which made the US charts are Love in every room and Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang.
Mauriat, with his highly creative bent of mind, arranged the old classical with fantastic orchestration.
- Bach -Toccato (Mauriat himself playing piano)
- Beethoven Symphony 9 (What a wonderful arrangement by Paul Mauriat)
- Mozart – Symphony 40
- Mozart – Concerto 21
- Elise
- Pachelbel’s Canon in D
Other famous numbers by Paul Mauriat
Paul Mauriat was very famous in Japan. Paul Mauriat had one of the largest catalogs. He was awarded Grand Prix by a French recording company.
This creative genius passed away in 2006 at the age of 81.
Answer for the last week’s Quiz: Hum Log
Quiz for this week: A Pianist was Prime Minister of a country. Who was he and what was the country?
‘Bale’ Sampat, a Chartered Accountant and a Carnatic Musician, lives in Chennai and teaches Piano.
Email: harsat9503@gmail.com
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