Charles Aznavour

Beloved French chanson entertainer Charles Aznavour, who wrote more than 800 songs, recorded more than 1,000 of them in French, English, German and Spanish and sold over 100 million records in all, was born Shahnour Vaghinag Aznavourian on May 22, 1924, in Paris, the younger of two children born to Armenian immigrants who fled to France. His mother was a seamstress as well as an actress and his father was a baritone who sang in restaurants. Both Charles and his elder sister waited on tables and he performed, as well. He delivered his first poetic recital while just a toddler. Within a few years later he had developed such a passion for singing/dancing, that he sold newspapers to earn money for lessons. He took his first theatrical bow in the play "Emil and the Detectives" at age 9 and within a few years was working as a movie extra. He eventually quit school and toured France and Belgium as a boy singer/dancer with a traveling theatrical troupe while living the bohemian lifestyle.

A popular performer at the Paris' Club de la Chanson, it was there that he was introduced in 1941 to the songwriter Pierre Roche. Together they developed names for themselves as a singing/writing cabaret and concert duo ("Roche and Aznamour"). A Parisian favorite, they became developed successful tours outside of France, including Canada.

He formed a successful vocal duet with Pierre Roche from 1942 to 1949.

In the post WWII years Charles began appearing in films again, one of them as a singing croupier in Adieu chérie (1946). Eventually Aznavour earned a sturdy reputation composing street-styled songs for other established musicians and singers, notably Édith Piaf, for whom he wrote the French version of the American hit "Jezebel". Heavily encouraged by her, he toured with her as both an opening act and lighting man. He lived with Piaf out of need for a time not as one of her many paramours. His mentor eventually persuaded him to perform solo (without Roche) and he made several successful tours while scoring breakaway hits with the somber chanson songs "Sur ma vie" and "Parce que" and the notable and controversial "Après l'amour.

" In 1950, he gave the bittersweet song "Je Hais Les Dimanches" ["I Hate Sundays"] to chanteuse Juliette Gréco, which became a huge hit for her. In the late 50s, Aznavour began to infiltrate films with more relish. Short and stubby in stature and excessively brash and brooding in nature, he was hardly leading man material but embraced his shortcomings nevertheless.

Unwilling to let these faults deter him, he made a strong impressions with the comedy Une gosse 'sensass' (1957) and with Paris Music Hall (1957).

He was also deeply affecting as the benevolent but despondent and ill-fated mental patient Heurtevent in Head Against the Wall (1959).

A year later, Aznavour starred as piano player Charlie Kohler/Edouard Saroyan in Francois Truffaut's adaptation of the David Goodis' novel Shoot the Piano Player (1960) [Shoot the Piano Player], which earned box-office kudos both in France and the United States.

This sudden notoriety sparked an extensive tour abroad in the 1960s.

Aznavour served as actor and composer/music arranger for many films, including Gosse de Paris (1961), which he also co-wrote with director Marcel Martin, and the dramas Three Fables of Love (1962) [Three Fables of Love") and Caroline chérie (1968) [Dear Caroline].

Dubbed the "Frank Sinatra of France" and singing in many languages (French, English, Italian, Spanish, German, Russian, Armenian, Portuguese), his touring would include sold-out performances at Carnegie Hall (1964) and London's Albert Hall (1967).

The actor also embraced the title role in the TV series "Les Fables de la Fontaine" (1964), then starred in the popular musical "Monsieur Carnaval" (1965), in which he performed his hit song "La bohême". His continental star continued to shine and Aznavour acted in films outside of France with more dubious results.

While the satirical Candy (1968), with an international cast that included Marlon Brando, Richard Burton and Ringo Starr, and epic adventure The Adventurers (1970) were considered huge misfires upon release, it still showed Aznavour off as a world-wide attraction.

Worked with François Truffaut who petitioned for the release of Sergei Parajanov from the Soviet prisons; Aznavour also worked with Atom Egoyan, whose 2nd favourite film is Sergei Parajanov's The Color of Pomegranates (1969) while Mikhail Vartanov, the best friend of Sergei Parajanov, regards The Color of Pomegranates (1969) as his most favourite picture and Charles Aznavour as his most favourite singer.

While he was also seen in The Games (1970) (1970), The Blockhouse (1973) (1973) and an umpteenth film version of Agatha Christie's Ein Unbekannter rechnet ab (1974), it was his music that kept him in the international limelight.

He has written three books, the memoirs "Aznavour By Aznavour" (1972), the song lyrics collection "Des mots à l'affiche" (1991) and a second memoir "Le temps des avants" (2003).

Partly inspired the character Char Aznable from the 1979 anime Mobile Suit Gundam (1979) (English name "Mobile Suit Gundam").

Mentioned in the 1980 song "Sister Europe" by The Psychedelic Furs.

Later films included Yiddish Connection (1986), which he co-wrote and provided music; Il maestro (1990) with Malcolm McDowell; the Canadian-French production Ararat (2002) for which he received special kudos; cameos as himself in The Truth About Charlie (2002) and Emmenez-moi (2005); and his final feature film, Mon colonel (2006)Films aside, his chart-busting single "She" (1972-1974) went platinum in Great Britain. He also received thirty-seven gold albums in all. His most popular song in America, "Yesterday When I Was Young" has had renditions covered by everyone from Shirley Bassey to Julio Iglesias.

Of Armenian descent, the performer founded the relief organization "Aznavour for Armenia" following the 1988 earthquake in his homeland.

Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1996.

In 1997, Aznavour received an honorary César Award.

In 1998, Aznavour was chosen "Entertainer of the Century" by CNN and users of Time Online from around the globe. Aznavour was recognized as the century's outstanding performer, with nearly 18% of the total vote, edging out Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and Frank Sinatra.

A "Farewell Tour" was instigated in 2006 at age 82. He diedMarried at least three times (some claim five) to Micheline Rugel, Evelyne Plessis and Ulla Thorsell, he fathered six children (daughters Katia, Patricia and Seda Aznavour, and sons Misha, Nicholas, and Patrick Aznavour).

On July 5th, 2008 was invested as an honorary officer of the Order of Canada. The honorary status is a special designation reserved for non-Canadians.

On April 25th, 2009 received l'Ordre National du Québec. It's the highest Honor bestowed by the Government of Quebec.

He was awarded the 2012 Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Medal from the Canadian Governor General in Paris, France.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Live Theatre at 6225 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on August 24, 2017.