Charles Aznavour
French singer and songwriter
Who was Charles Aznavour?
Charles Aznavour ( AZ-nə-VOOR; French: [ʃaʁl aznavuʁ]; Armenian: Շահնուր Վաղինակ Ազնավուրյան; born Shahnur Vaghinak Aznavourian; 22 May 1924 – 1 October 2018) was a French and Armenian singer-songwriter, actor, and diplomat. In a career as a singer and songwriter, spanning over 70 years, he recorded more than 1,200 songs, in various languages. Moreover, he wrote or co-wrote more than 1,000 songs for himself and others. Aznavour sang for presidents, popes and royalty, as well as at humanitarian events. In response to the 1988 Armenian earthquake, he founded the charitable organization Aznavour for Armenia along with his long-time friend, impresario Lévon Sayan. Since 1994, he was appointed Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Armenia to UNESCO until his death in 2018.
Historical significance
Aznavour was known for his distinctive vibrato tenor voice: clear and ringing in its upper reaches, with gravelly and profound low notes. Aznavour is regarded as one of the greatest songwriters in history and an icon of 20th-century pop culture.
