Obituary. The musician Charles Dumont had many friends in Cotentin

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“Our little Charles left this morning (Editor's note: Monday November 18, 2024), we learned the sad news through his Clubof which we are members. » Françoise Colson, well-known singer in the Cotentin since she lived for many years in Tourlaville with her partner Fernand Bersoullé – the couple is now based in Champagne-Ardenne – an emotional voice appears on the phone.

Composer of the legendary “No, I regret nothing”

His friend Charles Dumont died on the night of Sunday November 17 to Monday November 18, 2024, at the age of 95 ansfollowing a long illness. His name may not mean anything to you, especially to the youngest, but this artist became famous for having composed the music for the legendary title No, I don't regret anythingreleased in 1960 and brilliantly performed by Edith Piaf at the end of his career.

Aged 31 at the time, Charles Dumont “insisted on offering her compositions, but she refused each time. She took him out through the door, he came back through the window, Françoise Colson smiled. Then one day she heard the tune of No, I don't regret anythingand she said to him: I promise this song will go around the world! » Bet kept.

In concert at the Italian theater in 2013

The artist born in Cahors on March 26, 1929, trumpeter by training, will finally write him a thirty titleseight of which are internationally known, including My Godet The balls of the ball . But also The lovers, sang a duet with her.

During his 60 years of career, Charles Dumont also collaborated with Dalida, Tino Rossi or even Barbra Streisand, and had reconverted into a crooner at the end of the 60s, releasing a series of albums on the theme of love.

“He had a very beautiful voice, he came to give a concert (Editor's note: in particular in homage to La Môme) at the Italian theater in April 2013», remembers Françoise Colson perfectly… who played the first part! “I listened to several of her records, she kindly agreed to open for me,” he confided in our columns at the time. She is a quality and experienced artist, the evening promises to be beautiful. »

Faithful in friendship, he returned to Tourlaville to attend Françoise's concerts – “It even happened that he lend your pianist! » – and his daughter Caroline, who is currently opening for Shaka Ponk in the Zénith with her group Sun!

Charles Dumont's last appearance on stage dates back to October 3, 2019… quite simply at the Eiffel Tower! Obviously, the ex-Cotentinaise was there to applaud him: “It was a magnificent concert. We always stayed in touch, but it was complicated to see each other, with the illness…”

Definitely happy in the Channel, he had performed on several occasions, since 2005, au bar-restaurant-cabaret The Artists of Saint-Germain, in Saint-Germain-sur-Ay. This is how he became friends with the owner of the place at the time, the singer Virginie Cartier, also a fan of Piaf.

“To know if we have lived or not…”

In April 2013, when we asked him if he didn't regret anything, he had these kind words: “There is always an element of regret in life. You just have to know if, at the moment when the addition is to be presented, the positive is greater than the negative. And when you can say that in your life, you have gone to the limits of what you could do, share, receive… you regret nothing. What is important is whether we lived or not. I regret like any human being that things happened, but they are inevitable…”

Charles Dumont will be buried in Calvados in Tourgéville, a small town near Deauville where he had a second home. La Presse de la Manchesends his sincere condolences to his partner Florence and his children.

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