Charles Dumont died in Paris, during the night from Sunday to Monday November 18, 2024, his partner announced to AFP. Initially a trumpeter and passionate about jazz, he began his career as a composer anonymously using pseudonyms, in collaboration with the lyricist Michel Vaucaire.
Édith Piaf and Charles Dumont: a collaboration until the singer's death in 1963
Both wrote the timeless song No, I don't regret anything in 1956, four years before their meeting with Édith Piaf. Suffering, she was touched by the words echoing her near death. In the process, she recorded and published more than twenty other titles composed by Charles Dumont, such as My God, The Flonflons of the ball, How sad this Englishman was, Polichinelle or even My old Lucien. Charles Dumont and Édith Piaf even sang a duet on The Lovers. Sadly, the legendary singer died before she could record I rely on youcomposed by Charles Dumont and written by Jacques Brel.
From composer for Dalida to solo singer
Charles Dumont also composed for Dalida (Flamenco guitar, My heart goes, Gypsy), Barbra Streisand (The Wall and its English version I’ve been here), Bourvil (Our love is on strike), Juliette Gréco (The Owner) or even Tino Rossi and Luis Mariano. We also owe him the music for the TV film The adventures of Michel Vaillant in 1967 or even feature films Traffic et Parade by Jacques Tati. From the 1970s, Charles Dumont embarked on a career as a singer which ended in 2019 with his 26th studio album entitled Soul mate. He celebrated his 50th career in 2004 at the Bataclan and then took part in the Âge tender et têtes de bois tour in 2010, two years before publishing his memoirs, No I still don't regret anything. Awarded by the French Academy in 1987, the composer was named Knight (1984) then Officer of the Legion of Honor in 2015 as well as Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters in 2011.
