Pierre Delanoë
Pierre Charles Marcel Napoléon Leroyer (16 December 1918 – 27 December 2006), known professionally as Pierre Delanoë, was a French lyricist who wrote thousands of songs for dozens of singers, including Dalida, Edith Piaf, Charles Aznavour, Petula Clark, Johnny Hallyday, Joe Dassin, Michel Sardou and Mireille Mathieu.
Also recorded as Pierre Charles Marcel Napoleon Leroyer · Pierre Leroyer
Pierre Delanoë

Zegilbos · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Name
- Pierre Delanoë
- Birth Name
- Pierre Charles Marcel Napoléon Leroyer
- Born
- 16 December 1918
- Birthplace
- Paris, France
- Died
- 27 December 2006
- Place of death
- Poissy, France
- Occupation
- * Civil servant
- Full name
- Pierre Charles Marcel Napoléon Leroyer.
- Nationality
- France.
- Fields
- chanson.
- Education
- Lycée Rocroy-Saint-Léon.
- Honours
- Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres.
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Documentary summary
Pierre Charles Marcel Napoléon Leroyer (16 December 1918 – 27 December 2006), known professionally as Pierre Delanoë, was a French lyricist who wrote thousands of songs for dozens of singers, including Dalida, Edith Piaf, Charles Aznavour, Petula Clark, Johnny Hallyday, Joe Dassin, Michel Sardou and Mireille Mathieu.
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Note VALÉORINE
Pierre Delanoë (1918–2006) was a chansonnier, lyricist and poet, among other activities, of French nationality. The chansonnier was born Pierre Charles Marcel Napoléon Leroyer in 10ᵗʰ arrondissement of Paris and died in Poissy.
Pierre Delanoë was educated at Lycée Rocroy-Saint-Léon. The chansonnier worked for Europe 1.
The work spans chanson. Languages used include French. Honours include Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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wikidata · Q674280 · wikipedia · Pierre Delanoë
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Pierre Delanoë • Birth Name — Pierre Charles Marcel Napoléon Leroyer • Born — 16 December 1918 • Birthplace — Paris, France • Died — 27 December 2006 • Place of death — Poissy, France • Genre — Chanson • Occupation — * Civil servant • songwriter • author • Years Active — 1945–2006 • Website — pierre-delanoe.fr/
Career
Career
Pierre Leroyer was born in Paris. For his professional career, he adopted his grandmother's maiden name Delanoë. After obtaining a law degree, he began a career as a tax collector, and later a tax inspector. After World War II, he met Gilbert Bécaud and began working as a lyricist. For a period, he even performed alongside Bécaud in clubs. They penned some of France's best loved songs, including "Et maintenant", translated into English as "What Now My Love", which was covered by artists including Agnetha Fältskog, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, the Supremes, Sonny & Cher, Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass and the Temptations. "Je t'appartiens" ("Let It Be Me") was covered by the Everly Brothers, Tom Jones, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Nina Simone and Nofx. "Crois-moi ça durera" was covered as "You'll See" by Nat King Cole. In addition to Bécaud, Delanoë wrote for Édith Piaf ("La Goualante du pauvre Jean"), Tino Rossi, Hugues Aufray, Michel Fugain ("Je n'aurai pas le temps", "Une belle histoire"), Nicoletta, Nana Mouskouri, Michel Polnareff, Gérard Lenorman ("La Ballade des gens heureux"), Joe Dassin ("L'Été indien", "Les Champs-Élysées", "Et si tu n'existais pas"), Nicole Rieu ("Et bonjour à toi l'artiste") and Michel Sardou ("Les Vieux Mariés", "Le France"). He wrote a passionate song about Joan of Arc in "La demoiselle d'Orléans" for Mireille Mathieu. The final lyric: "When I think of all I have given France... and she has forgotten me" was truly how the singer felt as she was made a caricature by Communists. The song "Dors, mon amour", performed by André Claveau, for which Delanoë only wrote the music, and went on to win the Eurovision Song Contest 1958. In 1955, Delanoë was involved as Director of Programs in the launch of Europe 1, the first French radio station to program popular music in a modern way. He served as President of SACEM in 1984 and 1986, then from 1988 to 1990, and again from 1992 to 1994. He was awarded the Poets Grand Prize in 1997 by the institution. On 31 March 2004, Delanoë was given France's highest culture award, Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. He created some controversy in July 2006 after expressing dislike for rap music, saying that it is "a form of expression for people incapable of making music" and "not music but vociferations, eructations (belching)".
Death
Death
Delanoë died of cardiac arrest in the early morning of 27 December 2006, at the age of 88 in Poissy near Paris. He is buried in the Cimetière de Fourqueux, which is just southeast of Poissy. His wife Micheline Leroyer (née Biesel) died on 16 January 2015, aged 97, and is buried beside him. They had three children: Pierre-Denis, Sylvie and Caroline.
Identity and origins
Identity and origins
Pierre Delanoë was recorded at birth as Pierre Charles Marcel Napoléon Leroyer. He also worked under the name Pierre Delanoë. The authorities additionally record the headings Pierre Charles Marcel Napoleon Leroyer and Pierre Leroyer. His recorded language was French. Other recorded relations include Frank Gérald.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1918
Pierre Delanoë born at 10ᵗʰ arrondissement of Paris.
2006
Pierre Delanoë died at Poissy.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
10ᵗʰ arrondissement of Paris.
Birth place
Poissy.
Death place
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.French lyricist Delanoe dies at age 88. International Herald Tribune.
- 2.Writer of more than 4,000 songs. The Independent. 30 December 2006.
- 3.Bonini, Emmanuel. La véritable Mireille Mathieu. Paris: Pygmalion, 2005.
- 4.Eurovision 1958 France: André Claveau - "Dors Mon Amour". Eurovision World.
- 5.Discours de Jean-Jacques Aillagon lors de la remise des insignes de Commandeur de l'Ordre des Arts et Lettres à Pierre Delanoë, auteur.
- 6.O'Connor, Patrick. Prolific French lyricist who kept the tradition of the chanson alive at home and abroad. The Guardian. 10 January 2007.
- 7.Décès du parolier Pierre Delanoë. le devoir.
Bibliography printed in the source article · 21
- Pierre Delanoë, La vie en chantant, éditions René Julliard, 1980
- Pierre Delanoë, Le surnuméraire, éditions René Julliard, 1982
- Pierre Delanoë, Le 19è trou, éditions Robert Laffont, 1984
- Pierre Delanoë, en collaboration avec A. J. Lafaurie et Philippe Letellier, Golfantasmes, éditions Albin Michel, 1986
- Pierre Delanoë, La retraite aux flambeaux, éditions Robert Laffont, 1986
- Pierre Delanoë, Poésies et chansons, éditions Seghers, 1986
- Pierre Delanoë, Et à part ça qu'est-ce que vous faites ?, éditions Michel Lafon, 1987
- Pierre Delanoë, Comment écrire une chanson, éditions Paul Beuscher, 1987
- Pierre Delanoë, avant-propos de Jean-Marc Natel, Paroles à lire, poèmes à chanter, éditions Le Cherche Midi, 1990
- Pierre Delanoë, entretiens avec Alain-Gilles Minella, La chanson en colère, éditions Mame, 1993
- Pierre Delanoë, illustrations de Barberousse, Les comptines de Titine, éditions Hemma Éditions, 1995
- Pierre Delanoë, illustrations de Barberousse, Les comptines d'Eglantine, éditions Hemma Éditions, 1995
- Pierre Delanoë, préface de Jean-Marc Natel, voix de Charles Aznavour à Jean-Claude Brialy en passant par Renaud, Anthologie de la poésie française de Charles d'Orléans à Charles Trenet, éditions du Layeur, 1997
- Pierre Delanoë, en collaboration avec Alain Poulanges, préface de Gilbert Bécaud, La vie en rose, éditions Plume, 1997
- Pierre Delanoë, illustrations de Barberousse, musique Gérard Calvi, interprètes Jacques Haurogné, Juliette, Fabienne Guyon, Pierre Delanoë, Xavier Lacouture et Catherine Estourelle, La comptine à Titine, éditions Hemma Éditions, 1998
- Pierre Delanoë, préface de Michel Tournier de l'Académie Goncourt, Des paroles qui chantent, éditions Christian Pirot, 1999
- Pierre Delanoë, préface de Gilbert Bécaud, Le témoin était aveugle, éditions Les vents contraires, 2000
- Pierre Delanoë, préface de Jean-Marc Natel, narration de Brigitte Lahaie, musique de Guy Boyer, La poésie dans le boudoir, éditions du Layeur, 2000
- Pierre Delanoë, préface de Jean Orizet, D'humeur et d'humour, éditions Mélis éditions, 2002
- Pierre Delanoë, Tous des putes, éditions Mélis éditions, 2002
- Pierre Delanoë, en collaboration avec Jean Beaulne, Pierre Delanoë…Et maintenant, éditions City Éditions, 2004
References
Citations
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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