Financial difficulties, precipitated by his father's illness, forestalled a promising career as a classical pianist. Richard Clayderman ( French pronunciation: born Philippe Pagès French pronunciation:, 28 December 1953 in Paris) is a French pianist who has released numerous albums including the compositions of Paul de Senneville, Olivier Toussaint and Marc Minier, instrumental renditions of popular music, rearrangements of movie soundtracks, ethnic music, and easy-listening arrangements of popular works of classical music.Ĭlayderman learned piano from his father, an accordion teacher.Īt the age of twelve, he was accepted into the Conservatoire de Paris, where he won great acclaim in his later adolescent years.
