Jean-Pierre Bourtayre, the composer of the hits “Alexandrie Alexandra” and “Gentleman burglar”, died at 82

He had composed the music for dozens of songs by Claude François and also by Françoise Hardy, France Gall, Michel Sardou, Marie Laforêt among others.

Jean-Pierre Bourtayre, composer of hits by Claude François, as Alexandria Alexandraand countless melodies sung by Eddy Mitchell, Françoise Hardy, France Gall, Richard Anthony and Jacques Dutronc, died at the age of 82, we learned on Tuesday March 5 from Sacem (Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers of music) of which he was honorary vice-president.

Claude François also owed him the melodies of There is spring singing, The telephone is crying, Magnolias for Ever. This last title, with Alexandria Alexandra, marks a turning point in the star’s career. For him, he had composed dozens of songs.

“In 1977, Claude, who was on the lookout for everything that was happening in music, wanted to get into the disco style”, explained the composer to Sacem, which paid tribute to him on Tuesday on its site. “At the beginning, he intended to sing in English, but I dissuaded him, because there were already Sheila and Patrick Juvet: he was not going to be the third.”

From Dick Rivers to France Gall

It was Jean-Pierre Bourtayre who suggested that Etienne Roda-Gil write lyrics for Claude François, including Magnolias for Ever And Alexandria Alexandra. Etienne Roda-Gil “wasn’t at all enthusiastic”, remembered Jean-Pierre Bourtayre, “but I managed to organize a meeting and they got along very well. However, one feared ending up with a restless rascal, the other with a boring intellectual…”.

Jean-Pierre Bourtayre’s father was already a composer: Henri Bourtayre had written music for Tino Rossi, Luis Mariano and Maurice Chevalier. The son first composed original themes for Dick Rivers and Eddy Mitchell. In 1968, he composed with Hugues Aufray Goodbye, Mr. Professor. Then he worked for Françoise Hardy, France Gall, Richard Anthony, Michel Sardou, Marie Laforêt and many others.

Eurovision 1971

It was he who composed the theme ofA bench, a tree, a street, which allowed French singer Séverine to win Eurovision in 1971.

It was he who also imagined Gentleman burglar from the series credits Arsène Lupin, the one with Georges Descrières (1971-1973). The song was sung by Jacques Dutronc. Jean-Pierre Bourtayre was also artistic director of Barclay records.

“I salute this great name in French song (…). His work will remain eternally in our collective memory”, indicates Christine Lidon, president of the Sacem board of directors, on the institution’s website.