Composer, Singer. He was a French composer as well as a singer, pianist, guitarist, and actor, who was known as a master of romantic songs, which were usually released in French before English. As a composer, he is credited with 450 published songs and was best known for the 1961 composition, which was a European and American hit, "What Now, My Love." The song was covered by a host of artists, including the Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass' instrumental version, which was nominated for the 1967 Grammy Award for Record of the Year. He also wrote the 1960 song "Let It Be Me" for the Everly Brothers and the 1967 song "It Must Be Him" for Vicki Carr. Born François Gilbert Léopold Silly, he learned to play the piano at a young age before attending the Conservatoire de Nice. During World War II, he served as part of the French Resistance during the Nazi occupation of France. In 1952, he married Monique Nicholas, and the couple had three children. In 1973, he married Kitty Saint-John, with whom he had two children. Early in his career, he toured as a brilliant pianist and singer, having hundreds of screaming female fans, and was known as "Monsieur 100,000 Volts." According to his obituary in the British newspaper the "Guardian," he gave 249 concerts in one year. His first English release was "The Day the Rains Came" in 1957. Credited with seven operas, his "L'Opéra d'Aran" was performed for three months in a Paris theater. For a Christmas cantata, he was awarded the 1960 Grand Prize du Disque. In 1974, he received the Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour. As the only song to reach the United Kingdom's charts, he released "A Little Love and Understanding" in 1975. The lyrics of his songs were written by a host of artists. He also collaborated with American artists Neil Diamond, Sammy Davis Jr, Liza Minnelli, and Barbra Streisand, who all covered his songs. As an actor, he had bit parts in French films, mostly playing himself. He died from lung cancer.
Composer, Singer. He was a French composer as well as a singer, pianist, guitarist, and actor, who was known as a master of romantic songs, which were usually released in French before English. As a composer, he is credited with 450 published songs and was best known for the 1961 composition, which was a European and American hit, "What Now, My Love." The song was covered by a host of artists, including the Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass' instrumental version, which was nominated for the 1967 Grammy Award for Record of the Year. He also wrote the 1960 song "Let It Be Me" for the Everly Brothers and the 1967 song "It Must Be Him" for Vicki Carr. Born François Gilbert Léopold Silly, he learned to play the piano at a young age before attending the Conservatoire de Nice. During World War II, he served as part of the French Resistance during the Nazi occupation of France. In 1952, he married Monique Nicholas, and the couple had three children. In 1973, he married Kitty Saint-John, with whom he had two children. Early in his career, he toured as a brilliant pianist and singer, having hundreds of screaming female fans, and was known as "Monsieur 100,000 Volts." According to his obituary in the British newspaper the "Guardian," he gave 249 concerts in one year. His first English release was "The Day the Rains Came" in 1957. Credited with seven operas, his "L'Opéra d'Aran" was performed for three months in a Paris theater. For a Christmas cantata, he was awarded the 1960 Grand Prize du Disque. In 1974, he received the Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour. As the only song to reach the United Kingdom's charts, he released "A Little Love and Understanding" in 1975. The lyrics of his songs were written by a host of artists. He also collaborated with American artists Neil Diamond, Sammy Davis Jr, Liza Minnelli, and Barbra Streisand, who all covered his songs. As an actor, he had bit parts in French films, mostly playing himself. He died from lung cancer.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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