At the age of ten, Close began to play the piano by ear instead of taking lessons. He composed his first song at the age of fourteen and began to perform at small school concerts. When he was nineteen, he met Pierre Rapsat, a composer and performer who became his mentor and friend and with whom he would write several songs.
Close began playing the piano by ear at ten without formal lessons. By fourteen, he had composed his first song and started performing small school concerts. At nineteen, he met Pierre Rapsat, a composer and performer who became his mentor and friend, with whom he later wrote several songs.