Charles Aznavour is a French and Armenian singer, songwriter, and one of the most popular performers in France.
Lovingly named the French "Frank Sinatra". He is known for his unique tenor voice, which is as clear in the upper register as it is deep in its low notes.
The singer, whose career spans several decades, has raised several generations of music lovers who are fascinated by his melodic voice and amazing demeanor.
He is a multifaceted person who has written over 1200 songs and sung in eight languages. In addition to being a singer-songwriter, he also tried his hand at acting and diplomacy.
He first performed on stage when he was only 3 years old. And early realized that his vocation was to be a performer. A talented young man could sing and dance. Charles also took drama classes before dropping out of school to pursue his passion for music.
At first he fought for the championship, but soon established himself as a popular singer and songwriter. His unique voice, combined with his knowledge of several languages, have ensured that he has achieved cult status over the years.
Along with his distinguished singing career, he also pursued a career as an actor, appearing in over 60 films.
Charles Aznavour: childhood and youth
Shanur Varinag Aznavourian was born on May 22, 1924 in Paris to Armenian immigrants Mikhail Aznavourian and Knara Baghdasaryan. He was called "Charles" by a French nurse.
His parents were professional stage performers in their native Armenia. Then they were forced to flee to France.
The hard-working couple ran the restaurant to earn their living. But they were very fond of performing arts.
His parents ensured that Charles received music and dance lessons during his childhood. They also introduced him to the scene in his youth. The boy loved to perform and dropped out of school to pursue a career as a performer.
Charles started singing and performing in nightclubs when he was a teenager. Around this time, he met Pierre Roche, with whom he collaborated and performed together.
The duo also began writing songs and composing music and achieved some success in the late 1940s.
Career and friendship with Edith Piaf
In 1946, he was spotted by the legendary singer Edith Piafwho hired him as an assistant. She invited him to tour with her in the United States. At first he only opened the show, then he wrote many songs for her. They later became good friends, with Charles becoming Piaf's manager.
He tried to establish himself as a solo artist upon his return to France. Edith Piaf helped him again and introduced him to music industry executives. Difficulties in becoming a performer forced him to analyze his shortcomings and start working on them.
Soon his tenacity and resilience led Charles to develop a singing style that uniquely identified him and set him apart from other singers.
1956 was an important year for the artist. He achieved success with the composition Sur Ma Vie. He instantly turned into a star.
Aznavour within a few months earned a reputation as a very popular singer. In the 1960s he released several successful compositions. Including: Tu T'laisses Aller (1960), Il Faut Savoir (1961), La Mamma (1963), Hier Encore (1964), Emmenez-moi (1967) and Et Désormais (1969).
Along with his singing career, he also started acting in films. In the 1960s, Charles Aznavour starred in several films. Un Taxi Pour Tobrouk (1960), Thomas L'imposteur (1964), Paris Au Mois D'août (1966) and Le Temps Des Loups (1969).
Peak career
Charles Aznavour rose to the pinnacle of fame and turned into a superstar in the 1980s. It has achieved cult status. Due to the fact that the artist could sing in several languages, including French, English, Italian, Spanish, German and Russian, he gained international fame.
Together with Gérard Davouste, he acquired the music publishing company Editions Raoul Breton in 1995. Since then he has worked with many talented French composers and songwriters, including Linda Lemay, Sanseverino, Alexis H.K., Yves Nevers, Gérard Berliner and Agne Biel.
Despite his advanced age, he maintained a youthful spirit and looked to the future with optimism. He was still active and remained one of the most enduring performers in France. He was recognized as the No. 1 artist of the XNUMXth century due to his huge popularity and famous career.
Charles Aznavour: main works
The single She (1974) became very successful in the United Kingdom. The song peaked at number 1 on the UK Singles Chart and stayed there for four weeks.
The song was also recorded in French, German and Italian and played an important role in becoming a world famous singer.
Awards and achievements
- He received an honorary Golden Lion Award at the Venice Film Festival for the Italian version of Mourir D'aimer in 1971.
- In 1995, he was appointed Goodwill Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Armenia to UNESCO.
- He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1996.
- Charles Aznavour was appointed an officer of the Legion in 1997.
- In March 2009, the international music festival Disque Et De L'Edition (MIDEM) honored him with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Personal life of Charles Aznavour
Charles Aznavour first married Micheline Rugel in 1946. But this marriage did not last long and ended in divorce. He married a second time to Evelyn Plessy in 1956. This union also ended in divorce.
The artist finally found the love and stability he longed for when he married Ulla Thorsell in 1967. He was the father of six children.
Charles Aznavour died on October 1, 2018 at the age of 95 in Mouries.
