I can't remember when i listened for the first time the soft voice of aznavour but i know that i became a big fan of this great singer since that moment
LET ME INTRODUCE YOU THIS ARTIST
He was born in Paris on 22 May 1924. His parents were waiting in France for a visa to immigrate to the United States.
After difficult beginnings, Charles Aznavour has established himself at the top of the bill to never come down again. In France and abroad, it remains one of the last totems of French chanson.
His real name Varenagh Aznavourian, Charles Arnavour was born in Paris from armenian immigrant parents. From his earliest childhood, he bathes in an artistic atmosphere, with a father baritone singer and a mother actress. The latter soon gave him a taste for music and theater, and enrolled him only nine years at the Ecole du Spectacle. From then on, the young boy ran the auditions and interpreted the role of children in the plays Emile and the Detectives (1933), Much Noise for Nothing (1935) and L'enfant (1935). Thanks to his acting skills and his contracts of extras, he helps his family financially. At the same time, Charles joined his elder sister, Aida, in a variety troupe. This is his first contact with the song. In 1939, when his father joined the army, Charles put his career into parentheses to fill the role of head of the family. Then two years later, while attending the Club de la Chanson, a group of young songwriters, Charles Aznavour met Pierre Roche. The two men sympathize and form the duo Roche and Aznavour.
At the beginning, they both sing. Then, Pierre accompanied Aznavour to the piano in cabarets. The tandem works wonderfully. But it is mainly as authors-composers that they make themselves known. Pierre Roche, pianist of formation, composes; Charles Aznavour, a lyricist, juggles with words. Together they wrote for many artists of the time such as Lucienne Delyle, The Companions of the Song, Eddy Constantine and Mistinguett. In 1947, they won the Grand Prix du Disque for "J'ai bu", performed by Georges Ulmer. They also released a few 78 laps under the Polydor label, under the direction of Jacques Canetti, but these recordings were a success. Performing regularly in cabarets, their career takes a new direction the day when Edith Piaf attends one of their singing turns. Immediately, she became friends with Charles Aznavour. She hires the tandem to participate with her and Les Compagnons de la Chanson on her New York tour. In their impetus, the two accomplices try their luck in Quebec. In Montreal, they enchant for 40 consecutive weeks the public of the cabaret "Le pheasant doré". Despite this recognition, the tandem returns to France to try again to conquer the Parisian public. They finally separated in 1952. Following the advice of Edith Piaf, Aznavour understood that a career was being built alone.
The difficult beginnings of a solo career
Charles Aznavour then began a solo career. The Editions Raoul Breton trust him and take it under contract. His talent as a songwriter is noticed following the performance of "Je hais les dimanche" by Juliette Greco, SACEM's award in 1952. From then on, the artists of the Music Hall, including Mistinguett, Edith Piaf and Maurice Chevalier, Ask to write for them. At that time, a journalist claims that "France is totally Aznavourian". Yet, the young man does not manage to break through as a singer. He suffers from the sharp criticism of the press who do not like his physique judged "ungrateful" nor his voice, according to them "inaudible". A journalist of the time compared it even to "an unsaleable product, because hardly edible". When it occurs, it suffers the whistles of the room and sometimes receives projectiles.
Whoever does not correspond to the canons of the time is nevertheless right to persevere. He leaves for a tour in the countries of the Middle East and for the first time he is acclaimed for his performance. At the Casino de Marrakech, the director of the Moulin Rouge attends his recital and is seduced by the enthusiasm of the singer. He hired him as a star of his cabaret for two weeks. Bruno Coquatrix then notices it and the program at the Olympia featured English. In 1954, his ascent continues to the Alhambra where it makes full room for three weeks. A year later he wrote, composed and interpreted "Ma jeunesse", "Sur ma vie" and "Après l'amour", which was a scandal and was forbidden. In 1957, according to the classification of Paris Music Hall, he is the most widely diffused artist and the most But the stage proof is always a passage he apprehends.After a tour in the heart of France which proves to be a total failure, he ends up in triumph.
And now I propose you this beautiful song that makes me so nostalgic about my twenty years