Charles Dumont, the composer of “Je ne regrette rien” by Edith Piaf, died at 95

A prince of melody, a creative pen. The musician Charles Dumont died on the night of Sunday to Monday in Paris at the age of 95, his partner Florence announced to AFP. He notably composed “Non, je ne regrette rien” and “Mon Dieu”, for Édith Piaf. This singer-songwriter, who also collaborated with Barbra Streisand, died after a long illness at his home.

In his repertoire: many love songs. He wrote for Dalida, Bourvil but also Tino Rossi. After several refusals, he managed to convince Édith Piaf to sing his compositions. For La Môme, he will also compose “Mon Dieu”, “Les Flonflons du bal” and the duet “Les Amants”.

Piaf’s feather

“I owe my entire career to Ms. Édith Piaf”, confided Charles Dumont in an interview with Le Figaroin 2019.”She caught me at a point where I was a beginner, introverted, unhappy (…) You should know that when Piaf sang a song she recreated it, she multiplied it. Faced with this unique phenomenon, we had to take modesty as our guide.”adds the composer.

“No, I regret nothing” is the song that gave desire and energy to Édith Piaf. The singer does not want to hear about Charles Dumont. Accompanied by the author Michel Vicaire, the composer went to Édith Piaf in the fall of 1960. A few weeks later, on the stage of the Olympia, the Môme sang for the first time “No, I regret nothing”. The success is immense.

A French crooner

Charles Dumont started his career as a trumpeter. In the 1970s, he was the archetypal French crooner. He then had a series of albums where love took the lion’s share. The album “Une femme” earned him the Académie Charles-Cros prize in 1973. His last appearance on stage dates back to 2019 at the Eiffel Tower theater. “When you come back in front of an audience who comes to see you as they came 20, 30 or 40 years ago and gives you the same welcome, then they give you back your 20 years”he said.