French singing star Charles Aznavour

Tributes have been paid to French singer Charles Aznavour, who has died aged 94 after a career spanning eight decades.

The French-armenian chanteur wrote and performed his own taboobreaking material, penning more than 1,000 lyrical songs in his career.

Famed as the singer of She and The Old Fashioned Way, he also starred in countless films and became a United Nations representative on behalf of Armenia as he became increasingly involved in politics.

Aznavour appeared on around 300 albums, selling more than 100 million records worldwide.

He was born Shahnour Varinag Aznavourian in 1924, in the Bohemian St-germain-des-pres district of Paris, the son of restaurant owners.

He was taken under the wing of Edith Piaf in the 1940s, a platonic companion who recognised his genius.

French culture minister Francoise Nyssen said: “Charles Aznavour has for almost a century embodied what France is.”

As his career blossomed Aznavour became admired internationally for his poetic songs, impressing contemporaries Frank Sinatra – who he was compared to – and Bob Dylan, who praised the French artist.

Azvanour retained strong bonds to Armenia and did much to raise awareness of the Armenian Genocide.

The official Twitter account of the Republic of Armenia posted: “Today, Armenia and the world lost a legend, Charles Azvanour. We bow before you, Maestro.”