[3] He began his composing career in the 1960s, notably for the group Les Chats Sauvages, as well as Dick Rivers.

[4] That year, he became artistic director for Claude François,[5] for whom he wrote the songs "Le Téléphone Pleure", "Magnolias for Ever [fr]", and "Alexandrie Alexandra".

[6] His song "Parce que je t'aime, mon enfant" later became a re-lyricised 1974 UK hit single for Elvis Presley under the title "My Boy".

Bourtayre composed numerous theme songs for television series, such as L’Arsène (1971) and Gentleman cambrioleur (1973).

In 1979, he created a musical comedy, 36 Front populaire, alongside songwriter Étienne Roda-Gil and composer Jean-Claude Petit.