Michel Legrand dead: Oscar-winning composer who worked with Frank Sinatra and Edith Piaf dies aged 86

‘The Windmills of Your Mind’ songwriter worked with some of the world's biggest artists in a 50-year career

(Getty)

Oscar-winning composer and jazz pianist Michel Legrand has died in Paris aged 86.

During a career spanning more than 50 years, the French musician wrote the scores for over 200 films and TV series, as well as original songs.

Legrand, who had been scheduled to hold concerts in Paris in April, died during the night, his spokesman told Agence France-Presse on Saturday.

Born in Paris in 1932, Legrand, who came from a musical family, first began working as an accompanist and arranger in the 1960s. During his career he worked with the likes of Edith Piaf, Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Orson Welles and Jean Cocteau.

In 1968, he won his first Oscar for the song “The Windmills of Your Mind” from The Thomas Crown Affair film.

Legrand was also known for his scores for the French new wave director Jacques Demy, for Les Parapluies de Cherbourg (The Umbrellas of Cherbourg) in 1964 and Les Demoiselles de Rochefort (The Young Ladies of Rochefort) in 1967 – both of which received Oscar nominations. Working with Demy helped Legrand launch a career in Hollywood.

Two more best original score Oscars followed in 1971 and 1983, for the Summer of ‘42 and Yentl, respectively.