Charles Dumont (95), composer of Edith Piaf's iconic songs, dies
Charles Dumont, the legendary French singer-songwriter and composer best known for co-writing Edith Piaf's timeless classic Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien, has died at the age of 95 after a long illness. Born in Cahors in 1929, Dumont developed an early passion for jazz and initially trained as a trumpet player at the Toulouse Music Conservatory. His path to fame was one of determination and grit.
Dumont's career shift and collaboration with Michel Vaucaire
After World War II, Dumont moved to Paris to follow his passion for music. However, a tonsil operation made him give up the trumpet, and he switched to piano and composition writing. In the 1950s, he met lyricist Michel Vaucaire while working odd jobs to make ends meet. This meeting began a fruitful collaboration that gave us Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien in 1956.
The story behind Piaf's iconic song
Dumont and Vaucaire initially had a hard time getting Piaf to hear their compositions, with the singer initially refusing to meet them. However, they eventually got an appointment through her housekeeper. Despite a rocky start to the meeting, Dumont's rendition of Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien made a lasting impression on Piaf. She declared it was the song she had been waiting for and announced plans to perform it at her next concert at Olympia Hall.
Dumont's prolific career and contributions to film
Dumont kept writing for Piaf, giving her another 30 songs before her untimely death in 1963. His talent was also recognized by other icons like Dalida, Tino Rossi, and Jacques Brel. Barbra Streisand featured his song about the Berlin war, Le Mur, in her 1966 album Je m'appelle Barbra. Apart from his songwriting career, Dumont occasionally composed music for films and TV series like Jacques Tati's classics Trafic and Parade. May he rest in peace.
