Richard Clayderman


Richard Clayderman is a French pianist who has released numerous albums including the compositions of Paul de Senneville and Olivier Toussaint, instrumental renditions of popular music, rearrangements of movie soundtracks, ethnic music, and easy-listening arrangements of popular works of classical music.

Early life

Clayderman learned piano from his father, an accordion teacher.
At the age of twelve, he was accepted into the Conservatoire de Paris, where he won great acclaim in his later adolescent years. Financial difficulties, precipitated by his father's illness, forestalled a promising career as a classical pianist. So in order to earn a living, he found work as a bank clerk and as an accompanist to contemporary bands. He accompanied French singers such as Johnny Hallyday, Thierry Le Luron, and Michel Sardou.

Ballade pour Adeline

In 1976, he was invited by Olivier Toussaint, a French record producer, and his partner Paul de Senneville, to record a gentle piano ballad. De Senneville had composed this ballad as a tribute to his baby daughter, Adeline. The 23-year-old Pagès was auditioned along with 20 other pianists and got the job. "He was an interesting musician with a soft touch and good technique", said Toussaint. "And he looked good, too".
Pagès' name was changed to Richard Clayderman, and the single took off, selling 22 million copies in 38 countries. It was called Ballade pour Adeline.

Success

Clayderman has recorded over 1,300 melodies and has created a new romantic style through a repertoire which combines his trademark originals with classics and pop standards. As of 2006, his record sales number at approximately 150 million, and has 267 gold and 70 platinum albums to his credit. He is popular in Asia and is noted by the Guinness Book of World Records as being "the most successful pianist in the world".

Discography

;Studio albums, 1977-90
;Live albums
;Various releases, alphabetically
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
  • Hollywood and Broadway
  • Howards End and EastEnders theme
I
  • Il y a toujours du Soleil au dessus des Nuages
  • In amore
  • In Harmony - with James Last
  • In the Key of Love
  • Introducing Richard Clayderman
J
  • Japon mon Amour
  • Joue-moi tes rêves
L
  • La Tendresse
  • Les Musiques de l'amour
  • Les Musiques de l'amour
  • Les Nouvelles Ballades Romantiques
  • Les Rendez-vous de Hasard
  • Les Sonates
  • Lettre à ma Mère
  • Lettre à ma Mère
  • Love, American Style
  • Love Collection
  • Love Follow Us
  • Love Follow Us 2
  • Love, French Style
  • Love, Italian Style
  • Love Songs of Andrew Lloyd Webber
  • Love the Aboriginal's
  • Love the Phan-huy's
  • Lyphard Melodie
M
  • Magic of Brazilian Music
  • Magic of Richard Clayderman
  • Mariage d'amour
  • Matrimonio d'amour
  • Masters of Melody
  • Medley Concerto
  • Meisterstücke
  • Memories
  • Millennium Gold
  • Mexico con amor
  • Mother of Mine
  • Musical Collection
  • Music of Richard Clayderman
  • My Australian Collection
  • My Bossa Nova Favourites
  • My Classic Collection
  • My favourite Oldies
  • My favourite Melodies
  • Mysterious Eternity
N
  • New
  • New Era
  • Number 1 Hits
  • Null Piano Moods
O
  • On TV
  • Omaggio
P
  • Para Reynosa tamaulipas
  • Piano et orchestre
  • Plays Abba
  • Premiers chagrins d'Elsa, Les
Q
  • Quel gran genio del mio amico...
R
  • Remembering the Movies
  • Rendez-vous
  • Rêveries
  • Rêveries No.2
  • Richard Clayderman
  • Richard Clayderman
  • Richard Clayderman in Concert - Japan
  • Richard Clayderman in Concert - England
  • Richard Clayderman Plays Abba, The Hits
  • Romance and the Piano of Richard Clayderman
  • Romantic
  • Romantic America
  • Romantic Dreams
  • Romantic Nights, one of a 10 x CD compilation set from St. Clair
  • Romantique
  • Rondo pour un tout petit enfant
S
  • Scandinavian Collection
  • Serenade de l'etoile
  • Serenaden - with James Last
  • Smiling Joey
  • Songs of Love
  • Souvenirs
  • Souvenirs d'Enfance
  • Souvenir of Love
  • Stage and Screen
  • Sweet Memories
  • Sweet Memories
  • Souvenirs d'Enfance
T
  • Tango
  • Thailand mon Amour
  • The ABBA Collection
  • The Best 100
  • Together
  • Together at Last - with James Last
  • Träumereien 3
  • Träummelodien - with James Last
  • Treasury of Love, One of a 10 x CD compilation set from St. Clair
  • Triste Coeur
  • Turquie mon amour
  • Two Together
U
  • Ultimate Collection
V
  • Very Best of Richard Clayderman
  • Very Best of Richard Clayderman
  • Vietnamese Long Song
W
  • What a Wonderful World
  • When a Man Loves a Woman
  • When Love Songs Were Love Songs
  • With Love
  • With Love
  • With Love
  • World Tour
Z
  • Zodiacal Symphony
Numbers'