Biography
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Charles Aznavour (born May 22, 1924) is a Armenian-French singer, songwriter and actor. Besides being one of France's most popular and enduring singers, he is also one of the most well-known French singers abroad. He has has appeared in more than 60 movies composed more than 1000 songs (150 in English) sold well over 100 million records. [1]
Film career
Aznavour has had a long and varied parallel career as an actor, appearing in over 60 films. In 1960 Aznavour starred in François Truffaut's Tirez sur le pianiste, playing a character called Édouard Saroyan. He also put in a critically acclaimed performance in the 1974 movie And Then There Were None. Aznavour starred in the 2002 movie Ararat playing Edward Saroyan, a movie director.
He also appeared in the first season of The Muppet Show.
Biography
Aznavour was born Shahnour Varenagh Aznavourian in Paris, the son of Armenian immigrants. His artistic parents introduced him to the world of theatre at an early age.
He began to perform when he was nine and soon took the stage name Aznavour. His big break came when the singer Édith Piaf heard him sing and arranged to take him with her on tour in France and to the United States.
Often described as the "Frank Sinatra of France", Aznavour sings mostly about love. He has written musicals and more than a thousand songs, made more than one hundred records, and appeared in sixty movies. Aznavour sings in six languages (French, English, Italian, Spanish, German and Russian), which has helped him perform at Carnegie Hall and other major venues around the world. He also recorded at least one song from the 18th century poet Sayat Nova, in Armenian.
In the 1970s Aznavour became a major success in the United Kingdom where his song "She" went to Number One in the charts. His other well-known song in the UK was "Dance in the Old Fashioned Way".
An admirer of Quebec, he has helped the career of Quebecoise singer-songwriter Lynda Lemay in France, and has a house in Montreal.
Since the 1988 earthquake in Armenia, Aznavour has been helping the country through his charity, Aznavour for Armenia. There is a square named after him in central Yerevan on Abovian Street. Aznavour is a member of the Armenia Fund International Board of Trustees. The organization has rendered more than $150 million in humanitarian aid and infrastructure development assistance to Armenia since 1992.
Charles Aznavour was appointed as "Officier" (Officer) of the Légion d'honneur in 1997.
In 1998, Charles Aznavour was chosen as 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 and Bob Dylan. After Frank Sinatra's death, Charles Aznavour is the last of these "Greats". According to an Internet poll recently undertaken by Time magazine and CNN, Aznavour was chosen as "The Entertainer of the Century", surpassing Elvis Presley, Charlie Chaplin and John Lennon.
Artists who have covered his songs range from Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby to Ray Charles and Liza Minnelli. Elvis Costello recorded "She" for the film Notting Hill.
In 2002, Aznavour starred in the 2002 film Ararat as Edward Saroyan, a movie director.
Aznavour's nickname is "Charles Aznavoice", used both by critics and affectionately by some fans.
Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino is a fan of Aznavour and used a modified version of his name for his most famous character, Char Aznable
Awards and recognition
- In 1996 Aznavour was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
- In 1997 Aznavour was awarded an honorary César.
Discography
See also
- List of best-selling music artists
- Armenian-French relations
External links
- Official site.
- Biography by Radio France International
- Aznavour's song "La Mamma" played on harmonica
- Aznavour's song "For Me, Formidable" interpreted by French pop singers Alizée Jacotey (left) and Jenifer Bartoli (right); live TF1 performance (May 22, 2004) includes two cameo shots of Aznavour
- Fansite
- Original discography, catalogue and discussion group
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