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