Remembering the Music of Charles Aznavour

Known as the “French Frank Sinatra”, Charles Aznavour’s musical influence spread across borders and generations. In a career spanning 80 years, the French/Armenian singer, songwriter, actor, public activist and diplomat wrote more than 1,200 songs for himself and others - including the classic LA BOHEME - sung in eight languages, sold more than 180 million records in 80 countries and appeared in more than 60 films.
 
Aznavour started his career as a songwriter for Edith Piaf, who encouraged him to perform his own songs. As his popularity began to reach beyond France, he learned the languages of the respective countries he was touring. His theory: if the audiences understood the lyrics they would be more receptive. This helped him perform a sold-out Carnegie Hall in 1963 and other major venues around the world.
 
From his 1966 Broadway show, The World of Charles Aznavour to the present, he was performing his songs about love, including HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!, FOR ME...FOR-MI-DA-BLE, YOU'VE GOT TO LEARN, THERE IS A TIME and HOW SAD CAN VENICE BE, to name a few. Aznavour often toured with Liza Minnelli, who performed his AND I IN MY CHAIR.

In 2016, he performed at Madison Square Garden in New York for a one night only special. He most recently returned from a tour in Japan and had concert dates booked in November and December.
 
Aznavour’s unique ability to write compassionately about deeply personal matters resonated with many artists who have since performed and covered his work. In 1964, Aznavour’s LA MAMMA was the best-selling record in France and was given an English lyric, FOR MAMA, by Don Black, which became a hit in the United Kingdom for Matt Monro.

In 1969, Roy Clark's cover version of YESTERDAY, WHEN I WAS YOUNG climbed to No.6 on the Adult Contemporary charts, No.9 on the Country singles chart and No.19 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

In 1974, Aznavour became a major success in the UK when his song SHE was No.1 on the UK Singles Chart for four weeks during a fourteen-week run. Co-written with longtime collaborator Herbert Kretzmer, SHE was written as the theme song for a British TV series, The Seven Faces of Woman. Aznavour also recorded the song in French, German, Italian and Spanish. Years later in 1999, Elvis Costello recorded a cover of SHE that became an iconic part of the film Notting Hill and sent the song back up the international charts, particularly in the UK.
 
We are honored to have known and represent the musical catalog of Charles Aznavour, a great humanitarian, husband, father, and friend.
 
See more for a complete listing of Charles Aznavour songs.