Philippe-Gérard, born Philippe-Gérard Gérard on September 8, 1924, in São Paulo, Brazil, was a distinguished French composer and conductor. He passed away on May 18, 2014, in Paris, France. Known for his contributions to French chanson, Philippe-Gérard was also a talented pianist and was honored as a Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres.

In his early career, he was encouraged by the renowned composer Maurice Ravel and later became acquainted with Igor Stravinsky. He began composing songs with Francis Carco, which were performed by artists like Germaine Montero. His breakthrough came in the 1940s with the song "Pour moi toute seule," performed by Édith Piaf. He also composed "Le Chevalier de Paris," which gained international fame as "When the World Was Young," covered by Frank Sinatra and Bob Dylan.

Philippe-Gérard's film compositions include the score for Jules Dassin's "Du rififi chez les hommes" (1955) and works for Alain Resnais, such as "La vie est un roman" and "Mélo." He collaborated with prominent French singers like Yves Montand, Jeanne Moreau, Catherine Sauvage, and Cora Vaucaire. His long-term collaboration with Juliette Gréco resulted in the acclaimed album "Gréco chante Mac Orlan," which won the Grand Prix de l'Académie Charles-Cros in 1964.

Philippe-Gérard was married to Marie Wencel and previously to Andrée Messager, with whom he had five children, including Didier Philippe-Gérard, a filmmaker. His legacy in music is celebrated for its lyrical beauty and emotional depth, earning him a revered place in the history of French music.