"Mamy Blue" int'l hit composer Hubert Giraud dies at 94

PanARMENIAN.Net - French composer and lyricist Hubert Giraud, best known for the international hit "Mamy Blue" and whose works were recorded by a host of stars from Edith Piaf to Tom Jones, died on Saturday, January at the age of 94, his widow said, according to AFP.

Giraud, who died in Montreux in Switzerland where he had lived for the past 30 years, started out as a musician playing with the likes of Django Reinhardt's jazz group the Quintette du Hot Club de France in the 1930s and on Ray Ventura's big-band tour of South America.

Among his best known works were "Mamy Blue". It was a huge international hit for French singer Nicoletta who recorded it in 1971. It was also covered by singers such as Celine Dion and Julio Iglesias.

He also wrote the music for "Sous le Ciel de Paris" ("Under the Sky of Paris") for the 1951 film of the same name. It was later recorded by Edith Piaf, Yves Montand and Juliette Greco amongst others.

Another work, "Il est Mort le Soleil", was adapted by Ray Charles under the title "The Sun Died". Tom Jones also recorded a cover version.