Charles Trenet

Charles Trenet was a French singer and songwriter who was one of the most popular and influential figures of the chanson genre. He was known for his distinctive voice, his whimsical and poetic lyrics, and his catchy melodies that blended French song with American swing rhythms. He composed both the music and the words to nearly 1,000 songs over a career that spanned more than 60 years. Charles Trenet was born on May 18, 1913, in Narbonne, France. His father was an industrialist who was captured and detained as a prisoner of war in Germany during World War I. His mother was a homemaker who built holiday cottages in Soulac-sur-Mer. Charles had a sister named Alexandra and a brother named Jean-Pierre. He suffered a sexual trauma at the age of three, which affected him for a long time. He also developed a natural shyness, which he tried to overcome by becoming more religious and considering becoming a nun. Charles moved to Paris with his family after the war and attended the prestigious Lycée Jean-de-La-Fontaine. There he discovered his passion for drama and took classes with actor and director Raymond Rouleau. He also won a radio talent contest in 1933, which launched his career in show business. He made his film debut in 1934 in Les Quatre Vagabonds, a comedy directed by Jacques Daroy. Charles started his singing career in 1933 with the pianist Johnny Hess in a duo called Charles et Johnny. They performed witty and cheeky songs that soon caught on, such as Maman, ne vends pas la maison, Sous le lit de Lily, and Vous oubliez votre cheval. Charles also wrote songs for other artists, such as Y'a d'la joie for Maurice Chevalier, Vous qui passez sans me voir for Jean Sablon, and C'est la vie qui va for Yves Montand. Military service brought the Charles et Johnny duo to an end in 1936. The following year, Charles began his career as a solo performer, adopting the outfit he wore on stage for the rest of his life: a light blue double-breasted suit, a dark shirt and pale tie, and a narrow-brimmed fedora hat. He also earned the nicknames of The Singing Madman (Le Fou chantant) and The Foolish King (Le Roi des fous) for his eccentric appearance and behavior. Charles established his own style of chanson with songs that ranged from light-hearted comedy to romantic nostalgia. Some of his most famous songs include Boum!, Je chante, La Polka du Roi, La Mer, Que reste-t-il de nos amours?, Ménilmontant, Douce France, L'Ame des poètes, Le Jardin extraordinaire, and Nationale 7. He used unconventional imagery and wordplay to create poetic and surreal scenarios that evoked joy, sadness, love, or wonder. He also drew inspiration from American jazz and folk music and recorded cover versions of songs by Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, and The Rolling Stones. Charles continued to act in films alongside stars such as Louis Jourdan, Lilli Palmer, Charles Aznavour, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jean-Claude Brialy, and Alain Delon. He worked with directors such as René Clément, Georges Lautner, Henri Verneuil, Pierre Granier-Deferre, Michel Deville, and Jean-Pierre Mocky. Some of his notable films include Dark Journey (1937), Male Hunt (1964), How Not to Rob a Department Store (1965), Blue Panther (1965), The Legend of Frenchie King (1971), The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob (1973), The Last Deadly Mission (2008), and The Yellow Eyes of the Crocodiles (2014). Charles also had a career in theatre and was nominated for a Molière Award in 2000 for his portrayal of Maria Callas. He also wrote books, opened an art gallery, and became an antique dealer and auctioneer. He moved to Geneva, Switzerland, in 1978 and acquired Swiss citizenship. He never married or had children, but he had several romantic relationships with both men and women. He was also close friends with artists such as Jean Cocteau, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, and Brigitte Bardot. Charles Trenet died on February 19, 2001, in Créteil, France, from a stroke. He was 87 years old. He was buried at the Cimetière marin de Sète in Sète, France. He left behind a legacy of music and films that touched millions of people around the world.