Role

:

Composer Performer

Country

:

France

Birth

:

May 22, 1924 in Paris, France

Death

:

October 1, 2018 in Mouriès, France

Genre

:

Vocal

 

Charles Aznavour was a French-Armenian singer, songwriter, and composer who was born on May 22, 1924, in Paris, France. He was the youngest of three children born to Armenian immigrants who had fled the Armenian Genocide. Aznavour's parents were both performers, and he grew up surrounded by music and the arts. As a child, Aznavour was shy and introverted, but he found solace in music. He began singing and playing the piano at a young age, and by the time he was a teenager, he was performing in nightclubs and cabarets in Paris. Aznavour's early musical influences included French chanson singers like Edith Piaf and Maurice Chevalier, as well as American jazz musicians like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. In the 1940s, Aznavour began writing his own songs, and he quickly gained a reputation as a talented songwriter. He wrote songs for a number of popular French singers, including Piaf, Chevalier, and Yves Montand. Aznavour's songs were known for their emotional depth and poetic lyrics, and they often dealt with themes of love, loss, and the struggles of everyday life. Aznavour's breakthrough as a performer came in the 1950s, when he began recording his own songs. His first major hit was "Sur ma vie," which was released in 1952. The song was a huge success in France, and it established Aznavour as a major force in the French music scene. Over the next few years, Aznavour continued to release hit songs, including "Jezebel," "La Boheme," and "Emmenez-moi." In addition to his success as a singer and songwriter, Aznavour was also a prolific composer. He wrote music for a number of films, including "Tirez sur le pianiste" and "Un taxi pour Tobrouk." Aznavour's film scores were known for their haunting melodies and evocative themes, and they helped to establish him as one of the most important composers of his generation. Throughout his career, Aznavour remained committed to his Armenian heritage. He was a vocal advocate for Armenian causes, and he used his music to raise awareness about the Armenian Genocide. In 1988, Aznavour founded the Aznavour for Armenia foundation, which provided aid to victims of the devastating earthquake that struck Armenia that year. Aznavour continued to perform and record music well into his 80s. He released his final album, "Encores," in 2015, and he continued to tour and perform live until shortly before his death. Aznavour passed away on October 1, 2018, at the age of 94. Throughout his long and illustrious career, Charles Aznavour left an indelible mark on the world of music. His songs and compositions continue to be celebrated for their emotional depth, poetic lyrics, and haunting melodies. Aznavour's legacy as a composer and performer will continue to inspire generations of musicians and music lovers for years to come.

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