Paul Bonneau

Born in Moret-sur-Loing in 1918, Paul Bonneau studied music at the Conservatoire de Paris.

He won the premier prix d'harmonie (1937) in the class of Jean Gallon, the premier prix de fugue (1942) in the class of Noël Gallon and the premier prix de composition (1945) in the class of Henri Büsser.

In 1939, he was Army deputy chief music.

From 1942 to his death, Paul Bonneau has written more than 500 000 orchestral action. He has worked as a composer or as co-composer to 51 major French films, and many short films. He composed serious works; include : "Ouverture pour un Drame", "Concerto pour saxophone et orchestre", "Un Français à New York". He is also the composer of light orchestral music suites, many pieces for orchestra; he set to music 10 fables of Jean de La Fontaine, and composed of many light melodies and songs. He also wrote a large number of orchestral arrangements and vocal accompaniments for varieties. In operetta, he was the musical adapter and the composer of ballets 11 creations in the Théâtre du Chatelet.

His first radio broadcast of November 27, 1944. During the 30 years that followed, Paul Bonneau led 638 light symphonic music recording sessions, which corresponds to more than 1500 concerts broadcast on the broadcasting antennas national.

In 1945 he was made director of music tied to the Republican Guard. He then became conductor of light orchestral music on national radio, a position he held for thirty years.

In 1959, with the agreement of the RTF, he founded the vocal group Les Djinns who played and recorded 88 songs. Gilbert Bécaud was the artistic godfather.

During his musical studies at the "Conservatoire de Paris" he was in the same class as Maurice Baquet, Henri Betti, Léo Chauliac, Henri Dutilleux, Henri Leca, Louiguy, Pierre Spiers and Raymond Trouard. During his career, he worked and became close friends with Henri Betti. In 1962, he orchestrated the French song "C'est si bon" (composed in 1947 by Henri Betti with the lyrics of André Hornez) which is sung by Les Djinns.

He also adapted the airs of Jacques Offenbach for the operetta "Folies Parisiennes by Offenbach" (1976).

On September 24, 2016 and February 20, 2021, Benoît Duteurtre hosts his radio show "Étonnez-moi Benoît" about his career with the participation of the composer's son Christian Bonneau.