The orchestral arrangement of "Love Is Blue" climbed to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1968, marking the first time an instrumental reached that position since "Telstar" in 1962. This recording transformed Paul Mauriat from a French musician into an international figure, defining the sound of an era characterized by lush, easy-listening orchestrations.
Early Development and Training
Born in 1925 in Marseille, Mauriat grew up in a household where his father, a postal inspector, nurtured an interest in classical piano and violin. Mauriat began piano study at three and entered the Marseille Conservatoire by age ten. By seventeen, his musical interests shifted toward jazz and popular idioms. He initially worked as a postman before launching a dance band in 1942, touring European concert halls throughout the decade.
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After moving to Paris in 1958, Mauriat served as musical director for Maurice Chevalier and Charles Aznavour. His work with Aznavour included arranging 135 songs, such as "La Bohème". In 1957, he released his first EP and began producing albums on the Bel-Air label, often utilizing pseudonyms like Richard Audrey or Willy Twist to provide an international aesthetic. During this time, he also composed soundtracks for French films including "Un Taxi Pour Tobrouk" and "Faites Sauter La Banque".
Global Success and Arrangements
In 1963, Mauriat co-wrote "Chariot" with Franck Pourcel, which achieved significant American success as "I Will Follow Him". Signing with Philips Records in 1965, he began building his Grand Orchestra. His cover of "Love Is Blue" established his global profile, leading to world tours that included Japan, Brazil, and South Korea. By the 1970s, he recorded albums like "Classics in the Air", applying his orchestral style to works by Bach, Chopin, and Pachelbel.
Influence in Japan and Final Years
Mauriat maintained a particularly strong presence in Japan, selling over 15 million albums and performing more than 1,000 shows across 25 tours. He became the only international artist to hold two sold-out concerts at the Nippon Budokan in a single day. In 1996, he was named Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres. Following his retirement in 1998 at his final "Sayonara Concert" in Osaka, he passed away in Perpignan in 2006.
Fast facts
- Born: 1925, Marseille, France
- Died: 2006, Perpignan, France
- Primary genre: Easy listening
- Key award: Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres (1996)
- Chart success: Love Is Blue reached number 1 in the US in 1968
- Pseudonym: Del Roma
- Collaborators: Charles Aznavour, Maurice Chevalier
- Retirement: 1998
Questions readers ask
Which famous song did Paul Mauriat co-write?
He co-wrote "Chariot," which became a number-one hit in the United States as "I Will Follow Him" by Little Peggy March.
Where did Mauriat experience his greatest commercial success?
He saw immense success in Japan, where he sold over 15 million albums and performed over 1,000 shows throughout his career.
Achievements
- Instruments: piano
- Genres: easy listening
