Raymond Lefebvre

Raymond Lefèvre (20 November 1929 – 27 June 2008) was a French easy listening orchestra leader, arranger and composer. Born in Calais, France, he is best known for his 1968 interpretation of "Soul Coaxing (Ame Caline)" (composed by Michel Polnareff), which became an international hit. He also composed soundtracks for films starring Louis de Funès, including *La Soupe Aux Choux* (1981) and the *Le Gendarme de Saint Tropez* series. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, he accompanied Dalida on most of her recordings, including "Bambino," "Por Favor," "Tu peux tout faire de moi," and "Quand on n'a que l'amour," among others. He launched his recording career in 1956 on the Barclay Records label, and his music was distributed in the United States through Kapp and Four Corners until 1969.

Lefèvre was admitted to the Paris Conservatory at age 17. In the early 1950s, he played piano with the Franck Pourcel orchestra and performed at the Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles in 1953. He began his professional career in 1956 on the Barclay label and released his debut album that same year.

He contributed to the French television programs *Musicorama* (1950s) and *Palmarés des Chansons* (1965–1967), accompanying artists such as Dalida, Claude François, and Richard Anthony with his own orchestra.

His 1958 recording of "The Day the Rains Came" was a best seller in the United States. "Ame câline" (Soul Coaxing) became an international hit in 1968, while "La La La (He Gives Me Love)"—an instrumental adaptation of the 1968 Eurovision-winning song by Massiel—was a minor hit in Canada and the U.S. In 1969, his recording of "La Reine de Saba" (Queen of Sheba) was a major success in Japan. From 1972 until the early 2000s, he performed several successful tours in Japan.

Lefèvre contributed to the soundtracks of numerous Louis de Funès films. He conducted four entries at the Eurovision Song Contest, three for Monaco (1961, 1962, 1963) and one for Luxembourg in 1970.

Raymond Lefèvre died in Seine-Port, France, on 27 June 2008, at the age of 78.