[1][2][3] Valsien was born Albert Valensi in Algiers, the son of a French silk merchant on the Rue de la Lyre.

[2] Valsien eventually went to Paris after completing his military service as a nurse stationed at Bône in the north-eastern corner of Algeria.

It marked the beginning of a partnership which produced some of Mayol's greatest successes including "Cousine", "Arrouah Sidi", "Si l'on s'aime", "Voilà pourquoi", and "Bou-dou-ba-da-bouh!".

The latter became a prototype for a genre of popular songs depicting soldiers from France's African colonies and inspired the title of Bon Candidat Boudoubadabout, one of Georges Rouault's etchings in the series Les Réincarnation du Père Ubu.

While under bombardment by German artillery, he composed the song "Petit matelot" which Mayol sang in his visits to French military hospitals.