Biography
Francis Albert Lai (26 April 1932 – 7 November 2018) was a French composer, noted for his film scores. He won the 1970 Oscar for Best Music, Original Score and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score for the film Love Story. The soundtrack album went to No. 2 in the Billboard album charts and the film's theme, "Where Do I Begin", was a hit single for Andy Williams. Lai was born on 26 April 1932, in Nice, France, the son of market gardeners of Italian origin. From a very early age, Lai was fascinated by music and he played first in his local regional orchestras. In Marseilles he discovered jazz and met Claude Goaty, a singer of popular songs in the 50s. While in his twenties, Lai left home and followed Goaty to Paris, where he became part of the lively Montmartre music scene. The "Taverne d'Attilio" on the Place du Tertre in Montmartre, was a favorite place for the young talented Bernard Dimey with whom Lai composed his first song. Their song-writing partnership would extend to a hundred or so. After a short period with the orchestra of Michel Magne, Lai became an accompanist for Édith Piaf and composed for her. In 1965, he met filmmaker Claude Lelouch and was hired to help write the score for the film A Man and a Woman. Released in 1966, the film was an international success, earning a number of Academy Awards. The young Lai received a Golden Globe Award nomination for "Best Original Score". This initial success brought more opportunities to work for the film industry both in his native France, where he continued to work with Lelouch on scores to films such as Vivre pour vivre (1967), Un homme qui me plaît (1969), Le voyou (1970) and La bonne année (1973), as well as in Great Britain and the United States. He was known for his support of Mireille Mathieu in many compositions and recordings. In 1970 he wrote the score for director René Clément's film, Rider on the Rain ("Le passager de la pluie"). It sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc in September 1971. In 1970, Lai won the Academy Award for Best Music, Original Score and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score for the film Love Story. In the United States, the soundtrack album reached No. 2 in the Billboard album charts and the film's theme, "Where Do I Begin", was a hit single with lyrics by Carl Sigman for singer Andy Williams. The song would also be recorded successfully by Lai himself, with a full orchestra, and by Henry Mancini and Shirley Bassey. Lai's "Love Story" theme was heard in the 1978 Love Story sequel titled Oliver's Story, although the main score was composed by Lee Holdridge. ... Source: Article "Francis Lai" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.
Sound 107
2020s
- 2026
The Cinema of Francis Lai
Original Music Composer
- 2025
Stjepan Hauser plays Bach and Morricone @ Château de Neuschwanstein 2025
Music
- 2022
Shoot to Live
Music
2010s
- 2019
- 2017
Everyone's Life
Original Music Composer
- 2015
Un + une
Original Music Composer
- 2014
We Love You, You Bastard
Original Music Composer
- 2011
- 2010
What War May Bring
Original Music Composer
2000s
- 2006
Amore e libertà - Masaniello
Original Music Composer
- 2005
The Courage to Love
Original Music Composer
- 2003
Plastic Tree
Music
- 2001
Panorama: The Wonderland Club
Music Arranger
1990s
- 1999
One 4 All
Original Music Composer
- 1998
Chance or Coincidence
Original Music Composer
Panorama: Defend the Children
Music
- 1996
Men, Women: A User's Manual
Original Music Composer
- 1995
Les Miserables
Original Music Composer
- 1993
All That... for This?!
Original Music Composer
Le Voleur et la menteuse
Original Music Composer
- 1992
Stranger in the House
Original Music Composer
The Beautiful Story
Original Music Composer
- 1991
Les Clés du Paradis
Original Music Composer
I'll Be Going Now
Original Music Composer
- 1990
The Passion of Bernadette
Original Music Composer
There Were Days... and Moons
Original Music Composer
My New Partner II
Original Music Composer
1980s
- 1989
Too Beautiful for You
Original Music Composer
- 1988
Itinerary of a Spoiled Child
Original Music Composer
Bernadette
Original Music Composer, Music
Paradise Calling
Original Music Composer
Keys to Freedom
Original Music Composer
- 1987
Bandits
Original Music Composer
- 1986
A Man and a Woman: 20 Years Later
Original Music Composer
- 1985
AIDS: Love in Danger
Original Music Composer
Marie: A True Story
Original Music Composer
Astrolab 22
Music
- 1984
My New Partner
Original Music Composer
- 1983
Wunderland
Music
Salut la puce
Music
- 1981
Madame Claude 2
Music
Bolero
Original Music Composer
1970s
- 1979
Beyond the Reef
Original Music Composer
Us Two
Original Music Composer
- 1978
International Velvet
Original Music Composer
Robert et Robert
Music
Boarding School
Original Music Composer
- 1977
Widows' Nest
Music
Lost Soul
Original Music Composer
- 1976
The Body of My Enemy
Music
The Good and the Bad
Original Music Composer
Striptease
Original Music Composer
- 1975
The Babysitter
Original Music Composer
Cat and Mouse
Original Music Composer
- 1974
Child Under a Leaf
Original Music Composer
The Sex Symbol
Music
And Now My Love
Music
Visit to a Chief's Son
Music
By the Blood of Others
Original Music Composer
Loving in the Rain
Original Music Composer
- 1973
Reigen
Original Music Composer
Happy New Year
Original Music Composer
Killing in the Sun
Original Music Composer
- 1972
Tom Thumb
Music
And Hope to Die
Original Music Composer
Dust in the Sun
Music
Money Money Money
Music
Spy Trap
Music
- 1971
Smic, Smac, Smoc
Music
Iran
Original Music Composer
- 1970
The Crook
Original Music Composer
Berlin Affair
Music
The Games
Original Music Composer
Hello-Goodbye
Original Music Composer
Eyes Full of Sun
Original Music Composer
1960s
- 1969
3 Into 2 Won't Go
Original Music Composer
Life Love Death
Music
- 1968
Snows of Grenoble
Music
Tender Moment
Original Music Composer
13 Days in France
Original Music Composer
House of Cards
Original Music Composer
- 1967
I'll Never Forget What's'isname
Original Music Composer
Live for Life
Original Music Composer
My Love, My Love
Original Music Composer
Action Man
Original Music Composer
The Bobo
Original Music Composer
- 1966
Other crew 3
2020s
- 2026
The Cinema of Francis Lai
Compositor
1980s
- 1989
Les Rikikis au pays du Père Noël
Compositor
1970s
- 1970
The Love Mates
Compositor
Acted in 1
1970s
- 1971
Smic, Smac, Smoc
Blind Accordionist
Wrote 1
2020s
- 2026
The Cinema of Francis Lai
Author
Appearances6
2020s
- 2022
Shoot to Live
Self
- 2020
In The Tracks Of - Special Edition
Self
