Pierre Delanoe, 88; French lyricist wrote thousands of songs

Pierre Delanoe, 88, who wrote the lyrics for more than 5,000 songs for French artists from Edith Piaf to Johnny Hallyday, died Wednesday of heart failure, the French federation of authors, composers and publishers said.

He was known for writing some of France’s best-loved tunes, many with singer-songwriter Gilbert Becaud. One was “Et maintenant,” which was translated into English to become “What Now My Love,” and was covered by artists including Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, the Supremes and the Temptations.

Another of Delanoe and Becaud’s famous hits was “Je t’appartiens,” which became “Let It Be Me,” covered by the Everly Brothers, Tom Jones, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and Nina Simone.

A former tax inspector, Delanoe was also president of France’s Sacem, the federation of artists, composers and publishers, from 1984 to 1994.