Influential French-Armenian singer often described as France's Frank Sinatra
Did you know?He wrote hundreds of songs in several languages and was once named Entertainer of the Century by CNN.
Quick facts
Date of birth2 May 1924
Date of death1 October 2018
Age at death94
Cause of deathCardiac arrest, pulmonary edema
NationalityFrench-Armenian
BirthplaceParis, France
Occupationscreenwriter, film actor, lyricist
Editor's Take:
Charles Aznavour was small, with a husky voice that early critics mocked. He became one of the most loved singers in the world. Édith Piaf helped him early on. His songs told stories of love, ageing and loss with honest detail. He sang them in several languages. He also campaigned for recognition of the Armenian genocide. He was still touring in his nineties, weeks before his death. Many call him France's answer to Frank Sinatra.
Key Milestones
1946: Tours with Édith Piaf
1960: Stars in Shoot the Piano Player
1974: Tops the UK chart with She
2009: Becomes Armenia's ambassador to Switzerland
Charles Aznavour ( AZ-nə-VOOR; French:; Armenian: Շահնուր Վաղինակ Ազնավուրյան; born Shahnur Vaghinak Aznavourian; 22 May 1924 – 1 October 2018) was a French and Armenian singer-songwriter, actor, and diplomat.
