Charles Aznavour - AZNAVOUR.ORG

Biografy

Charles Aznavour Live Music on EuropeanRadio.org

Biografy
Charles Aznavourian, known as Charles Aznavour, was born in Paris on May 22nd, 1924 of Armenian parents.

Misha and Knar Aznavourian, unable to support their family from their art (he was a baritone singer and she was an actress), opened a restaurant, called "Restaurant Caucase". The Aznavourian family lived in an atmosphere of music, theatre and poetry, and it was completely natural that the family calling attracted little Charles.

During the worldwide crisis of the 1930s Misha closed his restaurant. At age 9 Charles successfully auditioned and entered the little "World Theatre". Then Charles had a series of child roles in many theatrical productions: "Emile et les detectives" at the Champs Elysees Studio in 1933. "Beaucoup de bruit pour rien" at the Madeleine theatre in 1935. "L`enfant" by Victor Marguerite; and at the end of 1935, he played the role of Henry the 3rd as a child, directed by Pierre Fresnay and with Yvonne Printemps. During the same period his sister Aida was in the theatre company and she trained Charles for the adult theatre.

The years passed and theatrical productions succeeded. Aida sang and coached her brother. However, Charles didn’t have a traditional look and appearance, and people called his voice "unappealing". Hard times came and he had to survive. He played newsboys and other extras in films, earning money to help his family get by.

While his father was in the army, Charles obtained a scholarship to the central school of T.S.F. He would cut classes, however, and hangout in theatres, music hall and the movies. Aida finally found her brother at the club de la Chanson. There Charles met the young pianist and composer Pierre Roche and they found a duo.

Under the name "Roche and Aznavour" they appeared in cabarets in France and Belgium. Charles became Pierre Roche’s sole lyrist. Aznavour’s first song written for George Ulmer "J`ai bu", won "record of the year". He next wrote for Edith Piaf, for "Les Compagnons de la Chanson", and Jacques Helian.

1946: Aznavour gets married.

1947: Seda his first child is born. He joins Edith Piaf, who includes him and the Compagnons de la Chanson for a big French concert tour. Upon Edith Piaf’s trip to the US, Roche and Aznavour come together to do a show in New York.

Then they crossed the border to Quebec and achieve immediate success. They played the Cold Pheasant Club for 40 weeks, 11 shows a week, with over 600 people attending the show.

1953: Roche marries Aglae. Influenced by Edith Piaf, Charles breaks up with Roche. He joins the musical publishers Raul Breton and writes "Je hais les dimanches" for Juliette Greco as well as songs for Mourice Chevalier.

In several short years a French journalist wrote; "France has totally Aznavourized!" There were no concerts in France where you couldn’t find at least one song written by Charles Aznavour. Although the media loved the songs he wrote, they found his voice unacceptable, and his style as a singer and actor non-commercial.

After running from concerts in North Africa, the director of the Moulin Rouge hired him for the first time to head the show. Bruno Coquatrix, hearing of his success, offered him three weeks at the Olympia with Sidney Bechet. Soon after playing in Alhambra in Paris, he was the number one young star in France.

It had been a long road to that success; "They had yelled at me, thrown money and beer cans on the stage, but I stick to it and I made it!" he said.

1954: Charles has more than 30 successful songs to his credit. He finally writes his own contract: three weeks as a star attraction at the Alhambra in Paris. It’s a big success and everyone in the business understands that they can account on Aznavour.

1955: His film career begins. He wins the "Crystal Star" award for the best French male actor.

1956: Charles records writes, sings and dances "Ma jeunesse"; "Parce que"; "Au creux de mon epaule"; "Sur ma vie"; "Apres l`amour" and others. He’s now a star. He does a grand and successful summer concert tour but this ends with a terrible car accident, and he’s immobilized for several months with two broken arms.

1957: He makes two films as the leading man. "Paris Music Hall" and "La Tete Contre les Murs", directed by George Franju, all while pursuing his singing career. He has two engagements at the Alhambra and then the Olympia.