André Popp

Who was André Popp?

André Charles Jean Popp was a French composer, arranger and screenwriter.

Popp was born into a family of German-Dutch background, in Fontenay-le-Comte, Vendée. He started his career as a church organist, filling the place of his father who had been called up to serve in World War II in 1939. Popp studied music at the Saint Joseph Institute. In the 1960s, he co-wrote at least three songs for the Eurovision Song Contest—"Tom Pillibi", which won the competition for France when it was sung by 18-year-old newcomer Jacqueline Boyer in 1960, "Le chant de Mallory", the 1964 French entry, performed by another newcomer, Rachel, and "L'amour est bleu" which came fourth for Luxembourg in 1967, but which later became a number-one hit instrumental in the US for Paul Mauriat. During this time he was the arranger for many top French singers such as Juliette Greco. He worked for many years for French radio.

Popp is the composer of Piccolo, Saxo et Compagnie, to a text by Jean Broussolle, a musical tale for children intended as a guide to the instruments of the orchestra and the rudiments of harmony.