Joseph Kosma

Bio

Joseph Kosma (1905–1969) was a Hungarian-born French composer best known for his film scores and popular songs. After studying at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest, he moved to Paris in 1933, where he became a central figure in the French film-music scene. His most enduring work is the 1946 song "Autumn Leaves" ("Les Feuilles mortes"), originally written for the film Les Portes de la nuit. Kosma also scored dozens of French films, collaborating with directors such as Marcel Carné and Jean Renoir, and his music remains a staple of mid-century French cinema.