Michel Emer

Michel Emer was born Michel Benjamin Rosenstein on 19 June 1906 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. He later became known under the name Michel Emer. His family moved to France, where Emer developed an early interest in popular music and jazz.
As a young man Emer worked as a pianist in Parisian cabarets and entertainment venues. A manuscript from this early period in the estate of Jan Broekhuis gives his name as "'Mike' Emer" and describes him as "pianiste à l'Arrêt facultatif Paris". The same manuscript gives his address as 38 quai d'Orléans in the 4th arrondissement of Paris. These annotations provide evidence for a little-known period in Emer's early career as a working pianist before he became widely known as a songwriter and composer.
During the late 1920s and early 1930s Emer became increasingly involved in the Parisian jazz scene. He worked as pianist, arranger and composer and was associated with musicians active around the emerging Hot Club de France. In 1933 he participated in recording sessions with the singer Jean Sablon; musicians involved in this circle also included Django Reinhardt.
During the 1930s Emer established himself as a successful composer of popular songs, chansons and stage music. He also worked as an arranger and conductor. His career became closely connected with some of the leading French singers of the period.
In 1940 Emer composed "L'Accordéoniste" for Édith Piaf, which became one of her early major successes. Their collaboration continued for many years, and Emer wrote numerous further songs for Piaf. Among his best-known later contributions to her repertoire are "J'm'en fous pas mal", "Bal dans ma rue", "La fête continue" and "À quoi ça sert l'amour ?"
Besides his work for chanson singers, Emer also composed music for the stage and for films and remained active as a songwriter, arranger and conductor for several decades. His catalogue eventually comprised hundreds of songs and other compositions.
Michel Emer died on 23 November 1984 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France.

In my possession is the autograph manuscript of the piano work "Catch up. Slow fox" by Michel Emer. The composition is dedicated to „ 'Lou' Roche“ or „ 'Lou' Rothe“. Some additions in pencil were made on the title page by a different hand: below the author‘s name „ 'Mike' Emer“ it is written: „pianiste a l‘arret facultatif Paris“. And at the very bottom of the title page: „adresse: M. Emer, 38 quai d‘Orleans, Paris 4e“. There is also a note below the title that says: „‘cause I can‘t have you“.