There are a lot of famous and talented Armenian in the world, but my favourite one whom I like and admire is Charles Aznavour. I love music and I can say that I’m fond of a lot of music styles. It depends on my mood but there is one singer I can listen to at any time is Charles Aznavour .There is nothing better than switching on my player with the songs of my favorite singer and relaxing on a cozy sofa…
Charles Aznavour with his parents
Charles Aznavour was born on 22 May 1924 . He was a French-Armenian singer, lyricist, actor and diplomat. Aznavour was known for his distinctive tenor voice: clear and ringing in its upper reaches, with gravelly and profound low notes. In a career as a composer, singer and songwriter, spanning over 70 years, he recorded more than approximately 1,200 songs interpreted in 9 languages. Moreover, he wrote or co-wrote more than 1,000 songs for himself and others.
Aznavour was one of France’s most popular and enduring singers.He sold 180 million records during his lifetime and was dubbed France’s Frank Sinatra, while music critic Stephen Holden described Aznavour as a «French pop deity». He was also arguably the most famous Armenian of his time. He was recognized as the century’s outstanding performer, with nearly 18% of the total vote, edging out Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan.Jean Cocteau said: «Before Aznavour, despair was unpopular».
Aznavour sang for presidents, popes and royalty, as well as at humanitarian events.
With his wife Ulla
In spite of the fact that he was born and lived in France, Aznavour was especially reverent about Armenia. He not only dedicated songs to Armenia, but even became the honorary ambassador of UNESCO in Armenia. The square in Yerevan is named after him.
In response to the 1988 Armenian Earthquake , he founded the charitable organization Aznavour for Armenia along with his long-time friend impresario Levon Sayan .
Aznavour in Spitak
He started his last world tour in 2014. On 24 August 2017, Aznavour was awarded the 2,618th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Later that year, he and his sister were awarded the Raoul Wallenberg Award for sheltering Jews during World War II. His last concert took place in NHK Hall in Osaka on 19 September 2018.
on the Walk of Fame-на «Аллее славы»
Early life and family.
His father sang in restaurants in France before establishing his own restaurant. Charles’s parents introduced him to performing at an early age, and he dropped out of school at age nine, and took the stage name «Aznavour».
Little Aznavour made his debut on stage at the age of 5, and at 12 he starred in his first film. During World War II, his father volunteered for the front. Charles had to left the school and performed in small Parisian cafes and theaters in occupied Paris in order to feed his family.
»It took 70 years to get a second chance and put on the table diplomas of several universities. This is one of my greatest achievements, I always felt uncomfortable not having a higher education» Aznavour said in an interview.
“I had a good youth, even when I had a hard time, you could always rely on the family and other immigrants,” Aznavour said in an interview.
Film appearances
Aznavour had a long and varied parallel career as an actor, appearing in over 80 films and TV movies. Aznavour starred in the 2002 movie Ararat playing Edward Saroyan, a movie director.
Charles Aznavour in the movie «Ararat»
“You will conquer the world because you knows how to excite,” — this is how General Charles de Gaulle described Aznavour.
Aznavour once said: «I do not dedicate my songs to anyone. Neither Edith Piaf, nor my wife, nor my children. Never … My songs are another part of my life. My personal life is one thing, my work is another.» .
Charles Aznavour and Lisa Minnelli
I admire him because a little boy could conquer the world on his own. He was so strong that despite of the fact that he was growing up in foreign country he found a great will in himself to overcome all difficulties and went to his goal.As we know, the public did not recognize him immediately, he was even told that he had no talent, but Charles did not disappointed and continued to sing.
On the question what was the reason for his success, he answered
»Chance, fate, my lucky star, protection of the Almighty, or maybe something else that I don’t even know about? Ultimately, I managed to get around all the pitfalls and avoid failure. What can I say about my success? In this world, not everything is arranged fairly, so I could not endure talking about it, considering it indecent to brag about my travels and flaunt those advantages that gave me the status of “famous chansonnier”. We will not say that at first I lost my head from what was happening, my “ego” and my claims were so swollen that they took on the shape and size of a Rolls-Royce, but soon enough I realized the futility of such things».
Charls Aznavour and his son Nicolas
I am so proud of him… you can rare meet world well-known man who will be so simple, so wise, so kind, friendly, cleaver , hard-working and modest at the same time.
Վովա Չոբանյանի բլոգ 