When it comes to famous voices of the XNUMXth century, one of the first names that comes to mind is Edith Piaf.
A performer with a difficult fate, who, thanks to her perseverance, diligence and absolute musical ear from birth, went from a barefoot street singer to a world-class star.
She experienced many such trials as: a poor childhood, blindness, upbringing in a brothel, the sudden death of her only daughter, several car accidents and operations, addiction to drugs, alcoholism, a suicide attempt, two world wars, the death of a beloved man, bouts of insanity and deep depression, liver cancer.
But despite all the hardships, this small (her height was 150 cm) fragile woman continued to delight the audience with her incredible, piercing singing. She remains a role model. Compositions performed by her are still heard on radio stations.
Difficult childhood of Edita Giovanna Gassion
The future pop legend was born on December 19, 1915 in Paris in a poor family. Mother, Anita Maillard, is an actress, father, Louis Gassion, is an acrobat.
The real name of the artist is Edith Giovanna Gassion. The pseudonym Piaf appeared later, when the singer first performed the composition with the words: “She was born like a sparrow, she lived like a sparrow, she died like a sparrow.”
As soon as the baby was born, her father went to the front, and her mother did not want to raise her and gave her daughter to the care of her drinking parents.
For the elderly, the granddaughter has become a real burden. They often added wine to a bottle of milk for a two-year-old baby so that the girl would not bother them.
Returning from the war, the father saw his daughter in a terrible state. She was emaciated, covered in mud, and completely blind. Without hesitation, Louis took the child from hell and took him to his mother in Normandy.
Grandmother was delighted with her granddaughter, surrounding her with love, affection and attention. The girl quickly gained the prescribed weight for her age, and by the age of 6 her eyesight was completely restored.
True, there was one circumstance - the baby had to live in a brothel, which was maintained by her guardian. This fact prevented the girl from going to school, as the parents of other students were against teaching their children in the same class as a child from a family with such a reputation.
Her father took her back to Paris, where she performed with him on the street - Louis showed acrobatic tricks, and Edith sang.
Timid steps to glory Edith Piaf
Earning a living by singing in street squares and in taverns continued until Louis Leple (the owner of the Zhernis cabaret) met on the way of a 20-year-old talented person. It was he who discovered Edith Piaf to the musical world, giving her the pseudonym Baby Piaf.
Behind the shoulders of the girl there was already experience in a similar place - the cabaret "Juan-les-Pins". The rising star had perfect vocal abilities, but did not know how to behave professionally on stage. She learned the correct manners and gestures, working with an accompanist.
Leple, betting on a street singer with an incredible dramatic voice, was not mistaken. True, he had to work to give the "diamond" the desired cut.
And on February 17, 1936, a new star appeared in the show business of those times. The girl sang on the same stage in the Medrano circus with such celebrities as M. Duba, M. Chevalier.
An excerpt from the speech was on the radio. Listeners appreciated the singing of an unknown performer, demanding to put the recording again and again.
The dizzying rise of Edith Piaf
After collaborating with Leple, there were several more significant events in the singer's creative career:
- cooperation with the poet Raymond Asso, who helped his protégé get into the ABC musical hall. It was he who created the unique style of the star, offering to change the old pseudonym to the new Edith Piaf.
- Acting in J. Cocteau's play "The Indifferent Handsome Man" and filming in the films "Montmartre on the Seine" (main role), "Secrets of Versailles", "French Cancan", etc.
- An enchanting performance in the Olympia Concert Hall (1955) and a subsequent tour of the countries of America lasting over 11 months.
- Singing legendary songs from the famous Eiffel Tower: "Crowd", "My Lord", "No, I do not regret anything" on the occasion of the premiere of the film "The Longest Day".
- The last performance in front of fans took place a few months before his death in Lille, on the stage of the opera house, in March 1963.
Life outside the stage: men and personal drama "sparrow"
According to the star, it is impossible to live without love. “Yes, this is my cross - to fall in love, to love and quickly cool down,” the singer wrote in one of her autobiographical works.
Indeed, there were many men in her life: Louis Dupont, Yves Montand, Jacques Pils, Theofanis Lambukas. She was even credited with a completely unfriendly relationship with Marlene Dietrich. However, there was no confirmation of this connection.
Romance happened frequently. But she truly loved one man - boxer Marcel Cerdan. Their love affair did not last long.
The athlete died in a plane crash in 1949. Upon learning of the tragedy, the woman fell into a deep depression, began to abuse alcohol and morphine.
Long before this incident, in 1935, the artist experienced another terrible blow of fate - the death of her daughter from tuberculous meningitis. She had no more children. Subsequently, the star repeatedly got into car accidents.
Trouble after trouble, health problems greatly damaged her state of mind. She tried to overcome physical and mental pain with the help of drugs and wine. Once, while under the influence of morphine, she even tried to commit suicide.
Since 1960, the performer has been in hospital for a long time. In the end, she was given a disappointing diagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver (oncology). She repeatedly said that she was jealous of the death of Moliere, who died on stage, and hoped to die the same way.
But the dream was not destined to come true, the cancer tormented the singer very much. She was exhausted from terrible pains, practically did not move, she lost weight up to 34 kg.
On October 10, 1963, the famous performer died. Until the last day, her last husband T. Lambukas was next to her, the marriage with whom lasted a short 11 months.
The grave of Edith Piaf is located in the Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris.
The songs of the "Paris Sparrow" are in demand to this day. They are performed by many famous singers, such as Patricia Kaas, Tamara Gverdtsiteli.
But it is unlikely that anyone will be able to surpass the legendary singer. The compositions were written under the character of the star. And she sang with their soul, gave all the best, despite her physical and mental state.
Therefore, in each of her performances there was so much expression, emotions and energy that instantly filled the hearts of the listeners.
