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French Oscar-winning composer, Michel Legrand, is dead

Published

5 years ago

January 26, 2019

Prolific French composer Michel Legrand , who won three Oscars during a career spanning more than half a century , is dead , his spokesman said on Saturday .He was 86 years old .

Legrand first won an Academy Award in 1969 for the song “ The Windmills of Your Mind ” from the film “ The Thomas Crown Affair” .

He followed that with Oscars for his music for “ Summer of ’ 42 ” in 1972 and for “Yentl ” in 1984.

He was also won five Grammys .

Legrand , who had been scheduled to stage concerts in Paris in April, died during the night, his spokesman told AFP .

He first began working as an accompanist and arranger in the 1960 s.

During his long career , he worked with Miles Davies, Ray Charles, Orson Welles, Jean Cocteau , Frank Sinatra and Edith Piaf.

Legrand was also known for his scores for French New Wave director Jacques Demy for the films “Les Parapluies de Cherbourg ” (“ The Umbrellas of Cherbourg ”) in 1964 and “ Les Demoiselles de Rochefort” (“ The Young Ladies of Rochefort”) in 1967 , both of which received Academy Award nominations .

( AFP )