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Noël Regney (born Léon Schlienger; 19 August 1922 – 22 November 2002), was a French World War IIveteran and songwriter who is best known for composing the Christmas standard "Do You Hear What I Hear?" with his then-wife Gloria Shayne Baker in 1962.[1] Originally from Alsace, France, he moved to New York City and then eventually Connecticut.
Life and career
He was born Léon Schlienger in Strasbourg, Alsace, France. Léon Schlienger, written backwards, is Noël Regnei (-lhcS). He grew up Catholic, but later became a Unitarian Universalist. He was drafted into the Nazi army despite being a Frenchman like many other "Malgré-nous". As an Alsatian, he spoke the German dialect Alsatian as fluently as French. It is said that he soon deserted, joined a group of French Resistance fighters, and became a double agent working for the French. He led a party of Nazis into an ambush, was shot in the arm, but survived. Eventually, while touring the United States, accompanying Lucienne Boyer, contemporary of Édith Piaf, he met his first wife pianist/composer Gloria Shayne with whom in 1962, he composed the Christmas song "Do You Hear What I Hear?"
Regney and Shayne also composed "Rain, Rain, Go Away", "Sweet Little Darlin'", and "What's The Use of Crying". He led an ensemble that backed Kay Lande's vocals on For Sleepyheads Only (1962). He wrote the English lyrics for The Singing Nun (Soeur Sourire)'s famous song "Dominique", the very name of his second wife, Dominique Gillain, though that is not to say that he co-wrote the song, which he had claimed. Together he and Gillain had a son Matthieu, born in 1982. Regney wrote the book and music for a musical biography of French writer Colette as well as other musicals: "Merrimount" and "Landsake". He knew the composers Darius Milhaud and Arthur Honegger; studied with Olivier Messiaen; may have studied with Honegger, and worked at Le Lido in Paris. In the mid-1960s, he led a group known as the Noel Regney Singers that released a children's album featuring folk songs in French and English called "Songs that Help You Learn French". There was a Spanish-English version as well.
Noël died on 22 November 2002 in Brewster, New York, of complications from Pick's disease.
References
^Fox, Margalit (2008-03-11). "Gloria Shayne Baker, Composer and Lyricist, Dies at 84". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
External links
February 19, 2023
noël, regney, this, article, relies, largely, entirely, single, source, relevant, discussion, found, talk, page, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, citations, additional, sources, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, july, 20. This article relies largely or entirely on a single source Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources Find sources Noel Regney news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2020 Noel Regney born Leon Schlienger 19 August 1922 22 November 2002 was a French World War II veteran and songwriter who is best known for composing the Christmas standard Do You Hear What I Hear with his then wife Gloria Shayne Baker in 1962 1 Originally from Alsace France he moved to New York City and then eventually Connecticut Life and career EditHe was born Leon Schlienger in Strasbourg Alsace France Leon Schlienger written backwards is Noel Regnei lhcS He grew up Catholic but later became a Unitarian Universalist He was drafted into the Nazi army despite being a Frenchman like many other Malgre nous As an Alsatian he spoke the German dialect Alsatian as fluently as French It is said that he soon deserted joined a group of French Resistance fighters and became a double agent working for the French He led a party of Nazis into an ambush was shot in the arm but survived Eventually while touring the United States accompanying Lucienne Boyer contemporary of Edith Piaf he met his first wife pianist composer Gloria Shayne with whom in 1962 he composed the Christmas song Do You Hear What I Hear Regney and Shayne also composed Rain Rain Go Away Sweet Little Darlin and What s The Use of Crying He led an ensemble that backed Kay Lande s vocals on For Sleepyheads Only 1962 He wrote the English lyrics for The Singing Nun Soeur Sourire s famous song Dominique the very name of his second wife Dominique Gillain though that is not to say that he co wrote the song which he had claimed Together he and Gillain had a son Matthieu born in 1982 Regney wrote the book and music for a musical biography of French writer Colette as well as other musicals Merrimount and Landsake He knew the composers Darius Milhaud and Arthur Honegger studied with Olivier Messiaen may have studied with Honegger and worked at Le Lido in Paris In the mid 1960s he led a group known as the Noel Regney Singers that released a children s album featuring folk songs in French and English called Songs that Help You Learn French There was a Spanish English version as well Noel died on 22 November 2002 in Brewster New York of complications from Pick s disease References Edit Fox Margalit 2008 03 11 Gloria Shayne Baker Composer and Lyricist Dies at 84 The New York Times Retrieved 2008 03 23 External links EditNoel Regney obituary Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Noel Regney amp oldid 1107350501, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
