So I write melodies - thirty, forty, fifty - then I cast them off until I have just two or three. If only one is needed, I go see the director and ask him to decide.

He is a virtuoso jazz and classical pianist and an accompliMichel Legrandd arranger and conductor who performs with orchestras all over the world. After his songs appeared in Jacques Demy's films The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) and The Young Girls of Rochefort (1966) Legrand became famous worldwide. Not as well received as his earlier work in the field of jazz was a 1994 album for LaserLight titled Michel Plays Legrand.

Legrand is a prolific composer having written over 200 film and television scores in addition to many memorable songs. He is best known for his often haunting film music and scores such as The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) and The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) featuring the song "The Windmills of Your Mind" for which he won his first Academy Award.