22 July 2017

Cimetière Saint-Pierre, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône (13) #1: Vincent Scotto and Henri Alibert

Vincent Scotto (1874–1952) was born in Marseille and died in Paris. He wrote 4000 songs and 60 operettas: his 'opérettes marseillaises' (sometimes caricatural) were very popular in Paris and elsewhere. He also composed songs for some two hundred cinema films, some by his friend of the director and writer Marcel Pagnol, who even gave him the title rôle in Jofroi (1934). His most successful song is undoubtedly 'Sous les ponts de Paris' (translated as 'Under the bridges of Paris'). He also wrote a book, Souvenirs de Paris, in 1947. The Prix Vincent Scotto has existed since 1948 for the popular song considered (by the Société des Auteurs, Compositeurs et Éditeurs de Musique (SACEM)) the best of the year. He lies here under this impressive memorial with his singer and actor son-in-law (Henri) Alibert (1889-1951), who was born in Carpentras.

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