In 1949, Romain Didier's father, who was a composer, won the prestigious Prix de Rome. As it should be, the prize was accompanied by a stay in the den of creation, the Villa Medicis, in the heart of the Italian capital. This is how on the second of November the same year, Didier Petit was born in the city of the seven hills to a mother who was a singer with the Paris opera and a father strongly focused on the key of sol. His first name used on stage, Romain, comes directly from this origin due to a twist of fate. 

With his brother Claude, Romain was raised in Paris in an atmosphere which was musical to say the least. But having little interest in piano lessons, he learned this instrument on his own. After his baccalaureat and some time at university, he worked as a pianist in a bar. He played his clients' requests while at the same time learning the standards of his favourite singers Brel, Brassens, Ferré, Aznavour and Trenet. It was the beginning of the Seventies. This life would last for several years. In 1974, he met his future wife. Together they would have two girls.

Meetings

With his writing companion Patrice Mithois, Romain Didier composed songs more and more. He tried to place them with known artisits. In 1980, it was Nicole Croisille who was the first one seduced by Romain Didier's voice which she heard on a demo. So she chose to sing "Allo Melo" and "Ma folie". Romain Didier entered into the French music scene brilliantly. Nicole Croisille trained him, hired him as principal musician then offered him the chance to open for her during her shows. 

Well on his way, Romain was able to record his very first 33 rpm on RCA records. But he didn't have any success. At the same time he was working in television, composing music for films, puppet shows as well as a mini-opera for children called "La Chouette" . 

He obtained his first success in 1981 with the song "Amnésie". So his career started with a first concert where he headlined at Théâtre du Petit Montparnasse. Surrounded by five musicians, Romain Didier succeeded in his first appearance. The critics and the public were seduced. Following closely afterwards, he obtained three grand prizes of the Spa festival in Belgium in June. 

In 1982, he released his second album "Candeur et décadences". The hit that came out of it "l'Aéroport de Fiumicino" evokes his Roman roots. Numerous concerts filled up his timetable. His contact with the public worked well even if his fame stagnated a little. But this wasn't his main worry. That year, he played at the Olympia, the most prestigious Parisian venue where he opened for the comedian Popeck.

Rewards

New success again in 1982 with his album "le Monde entre mes bras" and the track "Senor ou Senorita". This album led him straight to the Olympia for a solo performance, alone at the piano. This was 1985 and success would crown Romain Didier's talent: the Prix Raoul Breton from the Sacem(French organization of writers and composers) and the Prix Georges-Brassens at the Festival in Sete, Georges Brassens' hometown. 

But 1985 marked his meeting Allain Leprest, the writer-singer whose musical and artistic sensitivity found a real complement in Romain Didier's work. The two men became friends and started collaborating in their writing. Numerous songs and albums would be born of their association. 

In 1986, Romain Didier discovered a new Parisian club where he would play regularly from now on. It was the Théâtre de la Ville place du Chatelet in the heart of the capital. Alone at his piano, he continued to seduce an audience of loyal fans. That year, the singer recorded a live double album recorded at a concert in Brussels. Released under the name "Piano public", the album earned Romain the illustrious Prix Charles-Cros, confirmation of professional recognition. 

Greatly appreciated by his peers, Romain Didier was also invited by certain among them, and not the least important ones, to orchestrate their work. This was how he collaborated with Pierre Perret, Allain Leprest of course, and Francis Lemarque, author of the famous "À Paris", with whom he became good friends. In addition to this orchestration work, he also wrote for a lot of singers such as Annie Cordy, Sabine Paturel, Nathalie Lhermitte, Mouron( two albums in '87 and '89) and radio host Jean-Louis Foulquier in 1983 (with Allain Leprest).

Travel scenes, Travels on stage

In 1988, Romain Didier returned to the Théâtre de la Ville with a show that he wandered… all the way to Kazakhastan with! He also released a new album "Romain Didier 88", also called "Vague à l'homme". 

The following year, Romain met up with Allain Leprest again for the album "Place de l'Europe 1992". This album, that talks about the European capitals at a time when the continent is in the middle of geopolitical changes, led the singer on a long tour and to numerous festivals:The Paleo Festival of Nyon in Switzerland and the Francofolies of La Rochelle in France, the Spa in Belgium or Sofia in Bulgaria. In Paris it is at the Bataclan that his tour stopped off in '90, a tour in which he made it a high priority to visit very small towns. This would last two years. 

We found him again in 1992 at the Théâtre de 10 heures where he settled for two months. After more than ten years in the business, he decided that same year to record sixty of his songs on three CDs produced under the name "D'hier à deux mains".

A new album in 1994 "Maux d'amour", with fourteen songs recorded with the Enesco philharmonic orchestra of Budapest. We find among others a tribute to Léo Ferré ("Français Toscan de Monaco"), but also "Léon camé" or "Pétasse Blues" which remain the major titles of his repertoire that are on his first compilation "le Meilleur de Romain Didier" in '96.

Versatility

In 1997, Romain Didier received his second Charles-Cros Prize for his "En concert" recorded in Sarrebrück, Germany a few months earlier. At the same time, he continued a professional activity uncommon in the music business, teaching. He was in fact a music professor in the conservatories and music schools. 

As he had done a few years earlier, Romain started in the shows for children again with the writing of a musical tale "Pantin Pantine in 1998. Allain Leprest is once again part of the adventure. 

After the children and while "Pantin Pantine" travelled around France it is towards Jazz that Romain Didier turned in 1999 in his album "J'ai noté…" which was released in the spring. Alone in the composing, Romain Didier wasn't alone on stage at Cafe de la Danse from March 10-20th. His accompanists were even famous jazzmen such as Andre Ceccarelli on drums or Christian Escoudé on guitar. A new environment for a singer more often accompanied by the classic chords. 

Romain Didier released a new album "Délassé" in February 2003. Immediately following the release, he also would start a series of performances at the Théâtre d’Ivry-sur-Seine-Antoine-Vitez in the suburbs of Paris. The show was financed through ‘résidences-chanson’--a program that enables the invited artist to produce a show with substantial means, in return the artist has to organize training workshops during the rest of the year.

In spring Romain Didier took the road again for a new tour.

Never short of ideas or new projects, Romain Didier spent the first part of 2004 writing a stage show, "Les Copains d'abord." After its ‘premiere’ in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, the show got an enthusiastic reception when it was staged at the Francofolies music festival in La Rochelle on 14 July. "Les Copains d'abord" featured a number of Didier’s personal friends and showbiz acquaintances including Néry, Enzo Enzo, Kent and Allain Leprest. Didier returned the favour by writing songs for Enzo Enzo, Kent and Leprest’s new albums.

In November 2005, Romain Didier was back in the showbiz spotlight with a new studio album entitled "Chapitre neuf." Most of the lyrics on this new album were penned by Pascal Mathieu who came up with songs which suited Didier’s taste for melancholy and disillusionment. Didier returned to the stage towards the end of the year, performing his new show, "Deux de cordée" (as a duo with guitarist Thierry Garcia) from 28 November to 3 December at Le Divan du Monde in Paris.

December 2005

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