Charles Aznavour

Charles Aznavour was a French-Armenian singer, lyricist, actor and diplomat. He was one of the most popular and influential singers of the 20th century, with a career spanning over 70 years. He recorded more than 1,200 songs in nine languages and sold over 180 million records worldwide. He was also a successful actor, appearing in more than 60 films, and a humanitarian activist, founding the organization Aznavour for Armenia after the 1988 earthquake. He was appointed ambassador of Armenia to Switzerland and permanent delegate to the United Nations in Geneva in 2009. He received numerous awards and honors, including the Legion of Honour, the National Order of Quebec, the Wallenberg Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time and an icon of French culture. Aznavour was born as Shahnour Vaghinag Aznavourian in Paris on May 22, 1924, to Armenian immigrants who had fled the genocide in their homeland. He grew up in a musical family and started performing on stage at the age of three. He dropped out of school at nine to pursue his passion for music and theater. He met Edith Piaf in 1946, who became his mentor and helped him launch his career. He adopted the stage name Charles Aznavour and began writing songs for himself and other artists. He achieved his first success with the song "Sur ma vie" in 1955, followed by many other hits such as "La bohème", "La mamma", "Emmenez-moi", "Hier encore" and "She". He also collaborated with many famous composers and singers, such as Georges Garvarentz, Gilbert Bécaud, Serge Gainsbourg, Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli and Plácido Domingo. Aznavour was known for his distinctive tenor voice, which had a wide range and a unique vibrato. He sang about love, life, death, loneliness, nostalgia, social issues and human rights with honesty and emotion. His lyrics were often autobiographical or inspired by his own experiences as an immigrant, a minority and an artist. He wrote songs in French, English, Italian, Spanish, German, Armenian, Russian and Neapolitan. He performed in many countries and venues around the world, including Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Olympia and Madison Square Garden. He was admired by many generations of fans and critics for his talent, charisma and longevity. He continued to record and tour until his last days. Aznavour was also a prolific actor who starred in various genres of films, from comedy to drama to musicals. He made his film debut in 1936 and worked with many renowned directors such as François Truffaut, Claude Chabrol, Volker Schlöndorff and Atom Egoyan. Some of his most notable films include Shoot the Piano Player (1960), The Tin Drum (1979), Ararat (2002) and The Truth (2019). He also wrote several musicals for the stage and screen. Aznavour was a proud Armenian who never forgot his roots and heritage. He was a vocal advocate for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the independence of Armenia. He visited Armenia several times and supported various humanitarian and cultural projects. He founded the organization Aznavour for Armenia in 1988 with his friend Levon Sayan, to provide aid and assistance to the victims of the earthquake that devastated the country. He also donated his house in Yerevan to the Aznavour Foundation, which aims to preserve and promote his legacy and support education and social initiatives in Armenia. Aznavour was married three times and had six children. He was a devoted father and grandfather who enjoyed spending time with his family. He lived in various places, such as Paris, Geneva, New York and Mouriès. He died of cardiopulmonary arrest caused by pulmonary edema at his home in Mouriès, France, on October 1, 2018, at the age of 94. He was buried in the family vault at the cemetery of Montfort-l'Amaury, Yvelines, France. His funeral was attended by many dignitaries, celebrities and fans, who paid tribute to his extraordinary life and career.