Charles Aznavour, his wife, Ulla, with their daughter, Katia, and son, Misha, go swimming at Pampelone Beach, St.-Tropez, June, 1974
Photo by James Andanson
Charles Aznavour was born 98 years ago today.
Aznavour was a French-Armenian singer, songwriter, actor, public activist and diplomat. Besides being one of France's most popular and enduring singers, he was also one of the best-known French singers in the world.
Aznavour is known for his unique tenor voice: clear and ringing in its upper reaches, with gravelly and profound low notes. He appeared in more than sixty movies, composed about a thousand songs (including at least 150 in English, 100 in Italian, 70 in Spanish and 50 in German) and sold well over 100 million records.
He has been recognized as the century's outstanding performer, with nearly 18 percent of the total vote, edging out Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan.
Aznavour has sung for presidents, popes and royalty, as well as at humanitarian events, and is the founder of the charitable organization Aznavour for Armenia along with his long-time friend impresario, Levon Sayan.
In 2009, he was appointed ambassador of Armenia to Switzerland, as well as Armenia's permanent delegate to the United Nations at Geneva.
In 2017, his tour continued in Brazil (Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro), Santiago de Chile, Buenos Aires, Moscow, Vienna and Australia (Perth, Sydney, Melbourne).
On October 1, 2018, Aznavour was found dead in a bathtub at his home at Mouriès at the age of 94. He died of cardiorespiratory arrest complicated by an acute pulmonary edema.
Aznavour performs "Yesterday When I Was Young"
Charles Aznavour and Michèle Mercier in Francois Truffaut’s Shoot the Piano Player, 1960