French songwriter, composer and singer Pierre Barouh, who penned and sang the international hit “A Man And A Woman” from the eponymous 1966 film, died Wednesday aged 82, his wife said.

Barouh, who had been in hospital for five days, died following a heart attack, Atsuko Ushioda told AFP.

Raised in the western Paris suburbs in a Jewish family, Barouh followed a chequered career, becoming a journalist after World War II and playing for the national volleyball team before going on to Brazil where he befriended the main singers and composers of bossa nova.
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He returned to France and starred in films and turned to composing music. His biggest successes included the hit single “A Man And A Woman” from the Claude Lelouch film as well as “La Bicyclette.”

His songs were performed by French stars such as Yves Montand and Francoise Hardy.