FRANCE (CelebrityAccess) Charles Aznavour, 94, dubbed the Frank Sinatra of France, has died.
Aznavour, one of the most recognizable faces of the Armenian diaspora, had a career that spanned 80 years and was known worldwide for his voice and commanding stage presence, selling out concert halls until his death. He only recently started to use a prompter because he had written more than 1,200 songs by his own estimate, according to the Associated Press.
The legendary singer, born Shahnour Varinag Aznavourian in Paris to Armenian parents, had just returned from a concert tour of Japan, according to Sky News, and had European dates bbooked for later this year.
One of his sings, “She,” was famously recorded by Elvis Costello and performed in the movie “Notting Hill.” Aznavour began his career at the age of 9 as a comedian and began singing in his teens, peddling his songs in the 1940s and 50s to artists like Maruce Chevalier, Charles Trenet and Edith Piaf.
Piaf took him under her wing but, like her, his career grew way beyond France, being named entertainer of the century in an online poll by CNN and Time magazine in 1999.
His death was confirmed by the French Culture Ministry, with government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux tweeting “Thank you, M. Aznavour.”
Man who has warmed hearts of hundreds of millions of people for 80 years is not with us anymore. This is a day of sadness, a day of mourning in our country’s & people’s history: hero of #Armenia Charles #Aznavour has died. This is a universal loss. #NP pic.twitter.com/qaUqD8TFIX
— Government of Armenia (@armgov) October 1, 2018
RIP to singer, songwriter and actor Charles Aznavour, who has passed away at the age of 94.
Seen here in François Truffaut’s “Shoot the Piano Player” (1960) pic.twitter.com/kCLmPBKL26— BFI (@BFI) October 1, 2018
