Charles Aznavour

Charles Aznavour
Շառլ Ազնավուր
Officer of the Order of Canada
Charles Aznavour in Yerevan
Charles Aznavour in Yerevan
Background information
Birth name Shahnour Varenagh Aznavourian
Born 22 May 1924 (1924-05-22) (age 85) in Paris, France
Genre(s) Pop
Chanson
Jazz
Occupation(s) singer, songwriter, actor, public activist
Voice type(s) Tenor
Years active 1936 - present
Label(s) EMI
MusArm Records
Website www.c-aznavour.com

Charles Aznavour OC (Armenian: Շառլ Ազնավուր; born Shahnour Varenagh Aznavourian (Շահնուր Վաղինակ Ազնավուրյան)[1], 22 May 1924, Paris) is an Armenian-French singer, songwriter, actor and public activist. Besides being one of France's most popular and enduring singers, he is also one of the most well-known singers in the world. He is known for his characteristic short figure and unique tenor[2] voice; clear and ringing in its upper reaches, with gravely and profound low notes. He has appeared in more than 60 movies, composed about 1000 songs (including at least 150 in English, 100 in Italian, 70 in Spanish, and 50 in German[3]), and sold well over 100 million records.[4]

In 1998, Charles Aznavour was chosen as 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. He 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 and impresario Levon Sayan.

Aznavour started his global farewell tour in late 2006.

On December 26, 2008, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan signed a presidentail decree for granting citizenship for the Republic of Armenia to Charles Aznavour whom he called a "prominent singer and public figure" and "a hero of the Armenian people".[5]

Contents

Biography

Little Charles with his Mother Knar (1920s)

Aznavour was born in Paris, the son of Armenian immigrants Michael Aznavourian and Knar Bagdasarian[6]. His artistic parents introduced him to the world of theatre at an early age.

He began to perform when he was nine and soon took the stage name Aznavour. His big break came when the singer Édith Piaf heard him sing and arranged to take him with her on tour in France and to the United States.

Often described as the "Frank Sinatra of France", Aznavour sings mostly about love. He has written musicals and about a thousand songs, made more than one hundred records, and appeared in sixty movies, including Shoot the Piano Player, The Tin Drum and Ararat. Aznavour speaks and sings in many languages (French, English, Italian, Spanish, German, Russian, Armenian, Portuguese, Neapolitan), which has helped him perform at Carnegie Hall and other major venues around the world. He also recorded at least one song from the 18th century poet Sayat Nova, in Armenian. Que C'est Triste Venise, sung in French, Italian (Com'è Triste Venezia), Spanish (Venecia Sin Ti), English (How Sad Venice Can Be), and German (Venedig im Grau), is one of Aznavour's most famous polylingual songs.

In the 1970s Aznavour became a major success in the United Kingdom where his song "She" went to Number One in the charts. His other well-known song in the UK was "Dance in the Old Fashioned Way".

An admirer of Quebec, where he played in Montreal cabarets before becoming famous, he has helped the career of Quebec singer-songwriter Lynda Lemay in France, and has a house in Montreal. On 5 July 2008, he was invested as an honorary officer of the Order of Canada and performed the following day on the Plains of Abraham as a feature of the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City.[7]

Charles Aznavour Statue in Gyumri, Armenia.

Since the 1988 earthquake in Armenia, Aznavour has been helping the country through his charity, Aznavour for Armenia. Together with his brother in-law and co-author Georges Garvarentz he writes the song "Pour toi Arménie", which was performed by a group of famous French artists and topped the charts for 18 weeks. There is a square named after him in central Yerevan on Abovian Street, and a statue erected in Gyumri, which saw the most lives lost in the earthquake. In 1995 Charles Aznavour was appointed an Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Armenia to UNESCO. Aznavour is a member of the Armenia Fund International Board of Trustees. The organization has rendered more than $150 million in humanitarian aid and infrastructure development assistance to Armenia since 1992. Charles Aznavour was appointed as "Officier" (Officer) of the Légion d'honneur in 1997. In 2004 Aznavour received the title of "National Hero" of Armenia for his humanitarian work, Armenia's highest award[1]. In 2008, he was given Armenian citizenship[2].

Aznavour and Norwegian singer Sissel performing in Vienna

Artists who have covered his songs and collaborated with Aznavour include Fred Astaire, Andrea Bocelli, Bing Crosby, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Liza Minnelli, Josh Groban, Shirley Bassey, José Carreras, Laura Pausini, Nana Mouskouri and Julio Iglesias. Fellow French pop legend Mireille Mathieu has sung and recorded with Aznavour on numerous occasions. In 1974, Jack Jones recorded an entire album of Aznavour compositions entitled "Write Me A Love Song, Charlie", re-released on CD in 2006 [8]. Aznavour and Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti sang Gounod's aria Ave Maria together. Elvis Costello recorded "She" for the film Notting Hill. One of Aznavour's greatest friends and collaborators from the music industry is legendary Spanish operatic tenor Plácido Domingo, who often performs his hits, most notably a studio recording of "Les bateaux sont partis" in 1985, as well as Aznavour's "Ave Maria" several times live in 1994. Also in 1994, Aznavour performed with Domingo and Norwegian soprano Sissel Kyrkjebø at Domingo's third annual Christmas in Vienna concert. The three singers performed a variety of carols, medleys, and duets, and the concert was televised throughout the world, as well as released on a CD internationally.[9]

Charles Aznavour, a photo by Xavier Thomas.

At the start of autumn in 2006, Aznavour initiated his farewell tour, performing in the US and Canada, and earning very positive reviews. Aznavour started 2007 with concerts all over Japan and Asia. The second half of 2007 saw Aznavour return to Paris for over 20 shows at the Palais des Congrès in Paris, followed by more touring in Belgium, the Netherlands, and the rest of France. He has repeatedly stated that this farewell tour, health permitting, will likely last beyond 2010. At 84, Aznavour is in excellent health, although admittedly 60 years on stage have made him "a little hard of hearing".[10] He still sings in multiple languages and without teleprompters, but typically sticks to just two or three (French and English being the primary two, with Spanish or Italian being the third) during most concerts.[11] On 30 September 2006, Aznavour performed a major concert in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia to start off the cultural season "Arménie mon amie" in France. Former Armenian president Robert Kocharyan and French president Jacques Chirac, at the time on an official visit to Armenia, were in front-row attendance.[12]

In 2006, 82-year old Aznavour traveled to Cuba, where he, together with Chucho Valdes, recorded his new album Colore Ma Vie, presented at Aznavour's Moscow concert in April 2007. Later, in July 2007, Aznavour was invited to perform at the Vieilles Charrues Festival.

"Forever Cool" (2007), an album from Capitol/EMI, features Aznavour singing a new duet of "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime" with the voice of the late Dean Martin.

Aznavour finished a tour of Portugal in February 2008. On 18 January 2008 he participated as guest vocalist with the contestants of the French reality show Star Academy and sang his famous Emmenez-Moi with contestant Jérémy Chapron. Throughout the spring of 2008, Aznavour toured South America, holding a multitude of concerts in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay. Summer saw him in Quebec, and a return to Latin America followed in autumn.

Charles Aznavour's next album, the highly-anticipated international release of Duos, is a collaborative effort featuring Aznavour and his greatest friends and partners from his long career in the music industry, including Celine Dion, Laura Pausini, Josh Groban, Plácido Domingo, and many others.[13] It is to be released in early December 2008.[14]

Film career

Aznavour has had a long and varied parallel career as an actor, appearing in over 60 films. In 1960 Aznavour starred in François Truffaut's Tirez sur le pianiste, playing a character called Édouard Saroyan. He also put in a critically acclaimed performance in the 1974 movie And Then There Were None. Aznavour had an important supporting role in 1978's The Tin Drum, winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1979. Aznavour starred in the 2002 movie Ararat playing Edward Saroyan, a movie director.

Personal life

Aznavour was married to third wife, Ulla Thorsell, in 1968. He has 6 children - Seda, Katia, Misha, Nicolas, Charles, and Patrick.

Awards and recognition

Greatest Hits

Charles Aznavour in concert (1988).

(2001 collection tracklist)

Discography

Filmography

Charles Aznavour Videos/DVDs

Trivia

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ ArmeniaPedia
  2. ↑ ...highly distinct tenor voice
  3. ↑ Tableau des équivalences
  4. ↑ Thomas, Rebecca (10 April 2001). "Aznavour leaves on high note", BBC News. "Aznavour has sold more than 100 million records..." 
  5. ↑ New York Times article "Aznavour Granted Armenian Citizenship"
  6. ↑ Official biography
  7. ↑ globeandmail.com: Aznavour receives Order of Canada honours in Quebec
  8. ↑ "Write Me A Love Song, Charlie", by Jack Jones, also at Amazon.com
  9. ↑ Sissel Kyrkjebø (Soprano)
  10. ↑ Aznavour's log goodbye
  11. ↑ Riding, Alan (18 September 2006). "At 82, Charles Aznavour Is Singing a Farewell That Could Last for Years", The New York Times. "There are some people who grow old and others who just add years. I have added years, but I am not yet old..." 
  12. ↑ Charles Aznavour Biography, RFI Musique, February 2007
  13. ↑ Prochain album
  14. ↑ Charles Aznavour pays himself "it all" in his new album
  15. ↑ Edison Award Official Site, 2008
  16. ↑ Delegation of Armenia to UNESCO
  17. ↑ Charles Aznavour and Kirk Kerkorian National Heroes of Armenia
  18. ↑ Charles Aznavour receives Order of Canada honours in Quebec City

External links

Live performances

Preceded by
Maxime Le Forestier		 Victoires de la Musique
Male artist of the year
1997		 Succeeded by
Florent Pagny
Persondata
NAME Aznavour, Charles
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Aznavourian, Shahnour Vaghinagh; ; Ազնավուր, Շառլ
SHORT DESCRIPTION singer
DATE OF BIRTH 22 May 1924
PLACE OF BIRTH Paris, France
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH