Francis Lai (Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France, 26 April 1932 - 7 November 2018) was a French composer, noted for his film scores. While in his twenties, Lai left home and went to Paris, where he became part of the lively Montmartre music scene. In 1965 he met filmmaker Claude Lelouch and was hired to help write the score for the film A Man and a Woman. Released in 1966, the film was a major international success, earning a number of Academy Awards. The young Lai received a Golden Globe Award nomination for "Best Original Score".