Charles Aznavour, France’s legendary crooner, in dates

H ere are key dates in the life of French singer Charles Aznavour, who has died aged 94. May 22, 1924: Born in Paris to Armenian immigrants and named Shahnour Varinag Aznavourian.

1946: He meets singing icon Edith Piaf, for whom he will play the piano for eight years. She will take him to America.

1950: Writes in New York his first song “Je hais les dimanches”, performed by Juliette Greco.

1952: Hired to perform in the legendary Patachou

cabaret in Montmartre.

1953: First success with the melancholic ballad

“Viens au creux de mon epaule”. 1956: Put under contract by French music producer Eddie Barclay, the start of a successful career with songs such as “Je m’voyais deja” (1961) and “La Mamma” (1963).

1960: Stars in Francois Truffaut’s film “Shoot the Piano Player”, which catapults him to fame abroad.

1973: Releases “Comme ils disent”, the confession of a transvestite, which is widely successful abroad under the title “She”.

1991: Performs with Liza Minnelli for a month in

Paris.

1998: Named Entertainer of the Century by CNN

and Time Online.

2004: His 80th birthday is marked with a gala

performance in Paris.

2006: Performs a concert in the Armenian capital Yerevan during ceremonies to mark the anniversary of World War I massacres of Armenians.

2009: Appointed Armenia’s ambassador to

Switzerland.

2014: Undertakes a world tour to mark his 90th

birthday.

2015: Releases his 51st album “Encores”. 2017: Aged 93, receives a star on the Hollywood

“Walk of Fame”. — AFP