Musician Charles Dimoncomposer of the legendary song “Non, je ne regrette rien” and fellow traveler of “La Môme” (Edith Piaf), passed away last night at the age of 95.

The singer, songwriter and composer, who also worked with Dalida and Barbra Streisand, died after a long illness at his home in Paris, his partner Florence told AFP. At X, France’s Minister of Culture, Rashida Dati, paid tribute to “a sacred monster of French song”.

This trumpeter’s career took off at the turn of the 1960s when he convinced star Edith Piaf to perform one of his compositions.

The “Non, je ne regrette rien” (“No, I don’t regret anything”) has since become a signature hit of “La Môme”, known throughout the world.

“My mother brought me into the world but Edith Piaf brought me into the world”said the musician who was born in Cahors (southwest France) on March 26, 1929. “Without her, I would never have done all that I have done.”

It was 1956 when they came out of his piano Charles Dimonby a then unknown 27-year-old musician, the notes of what would become one of the most famous French songs in the world. But the singer was not sure. “Piaf had already rejected me three times, I didn’t want to see her again”Charles Dimon told AFP in 2018. “But Michel Walker, who wrote the lyrics, convinced me to try again in 1960. When he found out I was there, he raised his voice, demanding that the appointment be canceled.”

“Nevertheless, we went to her house. I played the piece on the piano. And… we never broke up,” he said. “At the time it was really bad and this song was a resurrection.”

Then begins a long-term collaboration until Piaf’s death in 1963, which will create more than 30 pieces, including “Mon dieu”, “Les flonflons du bal” or “Les Amants”.

“If I became an international musician, I owe it to Edith”said Dimon, who then collaborated with American Barbra Streisand.

“Le Mur”, sung in French on side A, and its English version titled “I’ve been Here” on side B, are included on the star’s eighth album, “Je m’appelle Barbra”, released in 1966.

As a singer, Dimon accompanies Piaf. “One night, I told her as I was leaving the stage that the audience was not good. He looks me straight in the eyes and says: ‘that wasn’t bad. You weren’t good.’ I understood then that the audience doesn’t make success, it’s what you give that works”.

With Piaf’s death he takes the microphone again before abandoning the protest songs: “Let’s leave that to the Americans who do it so much better!”he said.

Albums of songs where love takes the lion’s share follow. As of 2019, he was still appearing on stage. “When you reappear in front of an audience that sees you as they saw you 20, 30 or 40 years ago and welcomes you in the same way, it makes you feel 20 years old again,” he said.