Composer, Record Producer. Active primarily in French and international films. He received an Academy Award nomination for the original score of "Gigot" (1962). Magne was born in Lisieux, Calvados, France. He studied at the National Academy of Caen and in Paris with Olivier Messiaen before scoring his first film, "The Living Bread", in 1955. His rather wayward style blended traditonal tonality with musique concrete, electronic effects, and a pop sensibilty. Among his 90 other movie credits are "Germinal" (1963), Abel Gance's "Cyrano and D'Artagnan" (1964), "Fantomas" (1964), Roger Vadim's "Barbarella" (1968), and "The Sergeant" (1968). After a fire destroyed his home and most of his manuscripts in 1969, Magne reinvented himself as a record producer and built a lavish studio in a castle at Herouville, in the Oise Valley. Elton John recorded his albums "Honky Chateau" and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" there and it was utilized by Pink Floyd, The Greatful Dead, David Bowie, Rod Stewart, Cat Stevens, Jethro Tull, and many other artists. But Magne's profligate spending drove him into debt and the facility was seized by creditors in 1979. Unable to revive his fortunes, he committed suicide at 54. He wrote an autobiography, "Love of Living" (1980).
Composer, Record Producer. Active primarily in French and international films. He received an Academy Award nomination for the original score of "Gigot" (1962). Magne was born in Lisieux, Calvados, France. He studied at the National Academy of Caen and in Paris with Olivier Messiaen before scoring his first film, "The Living Bread", in 1955. His rather wayward style blended traditonal tonality with musique concrete, electronic effects, and a pop sensibilty. Among his 90 other movie credits are "Germinal" (1963), Abel Gance's "Cyrano and D'Artagnan" (1964), "Fantomas" (1964), Roger Vadim's "Barbarella" (1968), and "The Sergeant" (1968). After a fire destroyed his home and most of his manuscripts in 1969, Magne reinvented himself as a record producer and built a lavish studio in a castle at Herouville, in the Oise Valley. Elton John recorded his albums "Honky Chateau" and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" there and it was utilized by Pink Floyd, The Greatful Dead, David Bowie, Rod Stewart, Cat Stevens, Jethro Tull, and many other artists. But Magne's profligate spending drove him into debt and the facility was seized by creditors in 1979. Unable to revive his fortunes, he committed suicide at 54. He wrote an autobiography, "Love of Living" (1980).
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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