Three years without Aznavour: The renowned chansonnier would have turned 97 today
Today, May 22, marks the birthday anniversary of legendary French-Armenian singer and songwriter Charles Aznavour. One of most popular and enduring Armenian singers, Aznavour sold between 180 and 200 million records during his lifetime, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He was dubbed France's Frank Sinatra, while music critic Stephen Holden described Aznavour as a "French pop deity".
In 1998, Aznavour was named Entertainer of the Century by CNN and users of Time Online from around the globe. He was recognized as the century's outstanding performer, with nearly 18% of the total vote, edging out Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan. Jean Cocteau once said: "Before Aznavour despair was unpopular".
Charles Aznavour was born in 1924 to a family of Armenian immigrants in Paris. A world-renowned singer and musician, he has also earned praise for his humanitarian work. In 1989, he gathered more than 80 showbiz friends, including Minnelli and Dionne Warwick, to record “For You, Armenia” song, which raised funds for victims of the 7 December 1988 Armenian earthquake.
He continued to raise funds for Armenia and founded the Aznavour Foundation to help “Armenians all over the world, so they in turn help Armenia to become a self-sufficient country,” he said. He served as Armenia’s ambassador to Switzerland, and its representative at UNESCO in Paris.
In a career spanning over 70 years, the legend recorded more than 1,200 songs, released 294 albums, performed over 1,000 concerts in 94 countries worldwide and starred in over 60 movies. He sold 180 million records during his lifetime.
“I’m not afraid of death, I am just happy that I live, see, hear, feel and enjoy the surrounding world,” said Aznavour in his biography.
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The singer died on 1 October 2018 at the age of 94. The national homage ceremony to bid farewell to the renowned singer was attended by France's President Emmanuel Macron and Armenia’s leaders.“Some heroes become French by spilling their blood. This son of Greek and Armenian immigrants, who never went to secondary school, knew instinctively that our most sacred sanctuary was the French language,” and used it like a poet, Macron said at the ceremony. “In France, poets never die,” he added, standing before the coffin.
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