The French singer of Armenian origin, Charles Aznavour, has died at the age of 94 years. Beyond a prolific international artistic career, we also remember him as a champion of the cause of the Armenian people.
As well as carrying the voice of Armenian people around the world he was nonetheless an enlightened citizen with pertinent ideas about French society.
"Aznavour, The Last Chanteur" was the title chosen by the New York Times 20 years ago in October 1998 to announce the series of concerts that the Franco-Armenian artist was preparing to give on Broadway. Frank Sinatra had passed away in May of the same year and the interpreter of "La Boheme" represented overseas the ultimate crooner still alive.
Tribute to Charles Aznavour at the Eiffel Tower on October 01, 2018 in Paris, France. Source: AAP
Although Charles Aznavour refused this qualifier and preferred to define himself as "a lyricist who sometimes interprets his own songs", he had nonetheless managed to seduce the international public and to add to the list of these French talents which, like Maurice Chevalier, Yves Montand, or Edith Piaf, have managed to make a name for themselves in the country of Elvis Presley.
"I loved working with Lisa Minelli, she sung my songs in a different way, she invented a new way to sing my songs, she had those beautiful moments of acting in a song" - he told SBS French.
A star on the Walk of Fame
It was also during this period that Aznavour, then in his forties, met a teenage Liza Minelli.
"He really taught me everything about singing - how each song is a movie in itself," she said in 2013, the New York Times reported. The two artists also appeared on stage in duets over the decades in the United States.
"It's always to be known where the showbiz is from, America is the first country for singers and actors," he said in our exclusive interview.
Tribute to an artist without borders
10th September 1974: French singer and songwriter Charles Aznavour performing in a recording studio. Source: Victor Blackman/Express/Getty Images
"I can say that I'm also a bit Californian [because I have] a daughter here and my grandchildren [in 1967, he married Ulla Thorsell in Las Vegas in the neighbouring state of Nevada]," rejoiced. he then in front of a crowd of 200 fans and guests. He also said: "I'm French and Armenian, the two are inseparable like milk and coffee, it's fantastic to have two cultures. "
In this interview he gave for SBS Radio in October last year, Charles Aznavour remembered Sydney.
"I have very fond memories of Sydney, it's one of the two or three places in the world I ate Armenian food outside Armenia" praising the multicultural nature of the city.
Legacy
Charles Aznavour recipient of honorary Hollywood Walk of Fame Star, recognizing his contributions to the Arts and to the Armenian Community. October 27, 2016. Source: AAP
Charles Aznavour wrote 1400 songs over an 88-year long career, in many different languages.
His music has inspired many artists, starting with French and American rappers.
A quick look at the site whosampled shows the extent of his work sampled by modern artists including US Rap superstars; for example, the first notes of the song 'Parce que tu crois", served as the musical base to the Dr Dre and Eminem "What's the Difference".
