After working in a variety of trades, Raymond Asso began writing songs in 1933. His first hit, Mon légionnaire (1936), created by Marie Dubas, was followed by Fanion de la Légion, both with music by Marguerite Monnot. He then met Édith Piaf and helped launch her career, right up until the war. Again with music by M. Monnot, he wrote "le Petit Monsieur triste" (1938), "C'est l'histoire de Jésus" and "Je n'en connais pas la fin" for Piaf. "Un jeune homme chantait" is similar to a romance; "Paris-Méditerranée" and "Elle fréquentait la rue Pigalle" are typical of chanson réaliste; "le Grand Voyage du pauvre nègre" is inspired by the blues. Mobilized during the war, he had to leave his place with Édith to other songwriters, such as Michel Emer and René Rouzaud. After returning to civilian life, Asso returned to the profession with "la Java du bonheur du monde", for Lucienne Delyle, and, for Hélène Sully, conceived one of the bravest songs written during the Occupation, "les Prisons de France". After the Liberation, he enjoyed further success, writing "Y'a tant d'amour" (sung, among others, by Renée Lebas), and, to music by Claude Valéry, "Comme un p'tit coquelicot", premiered in 1953 by Mouloudji. He ended his career as administrator of the SACEM.
H. H.
