Download Free Richard Clayderman * Songs

Richard Clayderman music biography continued...

successful pianist in the world". His distinctive piano renditions and arrangements of pop and classical music have earned him incredible acclaim selling over 70 million records worldwide.

Clayderman was born Phillippe Pagès in Paris, France on December 28, 1953. His father was a piano teacher who began teaching him the fundamentals at the young age of six. When he was twelve, he enrolled at the Conservatory of Music in Paris where he placed first in a competition at sixteen. Despite his incredible talent playing classical music, upon graduation he attempted to focus on contemporary music by forming a rock band with his friends. However, his father fell ill and was no longer able to support his son. The young Pages soon became an accompanist and session musician in order to earn a living.

He began accompanying major French artists Michel Sardou, Thierry Leluron, and Johnny Halliday. In 1976, he was noticed by French producer Olivier Toussaint and composer Paul de Senneville, who auditioned him along with 20 other pianists to record a ballad composed for Paul's new born daughter. Pagès was quickly chosen and immediately began recording "Ballade pour Adeline". His name was changed to Richard Clayderman in order to avoid mispronunciations outside of France. The single sold an astonishing 22 million copies in 38 countries marking the beginning of the artist's lifelong success. Over the years he has recorded over 1000 songs becoming a popular best selling artist. He has devoted much of his time to performing concerts and pleasing his fans going as far as playing 200 shows in 250 days.