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Charles Aznavour september 1961, photo by Joop van Bilsen / Anefo.

Top 10 Interesting Facts About Charles Aznavour

Charles Aznavour, born Shahnour Varinag Aznavourian is a French, later naturalized Armenian, singer, songwriter, actor, public activist and diplomat. Aznavour is known for his unique tenor voice: clear and ringing in its upper reaches, with gravelly and profound low notes. Aznavour was already familiar with performing on stage by the time he began his career as a musician.

At the age of nine, he had roles in a play called Un Petit Diable à Paris and a film entitled La Guerre des Gosses. Later in 2009 he was appointed ambassador of Armenia to Switzerland, as well as Armenia’s permanent delegate to the United Nations at Geneva.

1.Aznavour made over 800 songs

Aznavour in concert in 1988, Photo by Roland Godefroy.

He has written over 800 songs and recorded over 1,200, sung in eight languages and sold more than 180 million records. He is one of France’s most popular and enduring singers. He has been dubbed France’s Frank Sinatra, while music critic Stephen Holden has described Aznavour as “French pop deity.” He is also arguably the most famous Armenian of his time and an icon of the 20^th century pop culture.

2.Aznavour was named the entertainer of the year

Aznavour at the 1999 , Photo by Georges Biard.

 In 1998, Aznavour was named Entertainer of the Century by CNN and users of Time Online from around the globe. He was recognized as the century’s outstanding performer, with nearly 18% of the total vote.

 He has sung 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 Levon Sayan,

3.Aznavour began his career at 9 years old

Aznavour was already familiar with performing on stage by the time he began his career as a musician. At the age of nine, he had roles in a play called Un Petit Diable à Paris and a film entitled La Guerre des Gosses.

4.Aznavour’s participation during world war II

During the German occupation in France, he hid a number of people presumed as Nazis at that moment.  During the war he was closely recognized for offering shelter to Armenians, Jews and others while risking his own life in the process.

President of Israel, Reuven Rivlin, recognized him in his statement issued in 2017. His active participation in the rescue of people during the war can be attributed to his interest in advocating for the protection of all human rights regardless of their race or nationality.

5.Aznavour as a nightclub dancer

Aznavour then turned to professional dancing and performed in several nightclubs. In 1944, he and actor Pierre Roche began a partnership and in collaborative efforts performed in numerous nightclubs.  It was through this partnership that Aznavour began to write songs and sing. The partnership’s first successes were in Canada in 1948-1950.

6.Aznavour as an actor

Aznavour has appeared in over 60 films. In 1960 Aznavour starred in François Truffaut’s Tirez sur le pianiste. He also put in a critically acclaimed performance in the 1974 movie And Then There Were None. Aznavour had an important supporting role in 1979’s The Tin Drum, which won the  Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1980.

He later starred in Claude Chabrol’s Les Fantômes du chapelier. In the 1984, he appeared and performs as one of Prince Orlovsky’s guests. Aznavour in 2002 stared in the movie Ararat playing Edward Saroyan, playing as a movie director in the film.

7.Aznavour as a politician

Charles Aznavour, photo by Mariusz Kubik.

Over years as Aznavour career progresses he acquired interest in international politics. During the 2002 French presidential elections, when socially conservative nationalist Jean-Marie Le Pen of the National Front made it into the runoff election, facing incumbent Jacques Chirac, Aznavour signed the “Vive la France” petition, and called on all French to “sing the Marseillaise” in protest. He used his passion that was music to demonstrate his discontentment in the presidential elections.

8.Aznavour appointment as a Minister

At the age of 76 Charles was appointed as a minister of culture of France. This appointment was attributed to his prior engagement and interests in music and movies and slightly his interest in international politics. His son and he were well known to preserve and promote culture and humanitarian heritage through his art and his global actions.

9.Charles awards and honors

Statue of Aznavour in Gyumri, Armenia. Photo by Yerevantsi.

He has had long and distinguished lists of awards. A few notable ones; Ambassador of Goodwill and permanent delegate of Armenia to UNESCO, The songwriter Hall of Fame, office of legion d’honneur, Honorary Office of the of Canada, commander in the order of the Crown by Royal Decree etc. he has received over 20 awards from the year 1995 to 2016. These were commendable achievements in his career throughout his life.

10.Aznavour as a civil rights activist

Aznavour was a member of the Armenia Fund international Board of Trustees. During this time the organization has rendered over $150 million in humanitarian aid and infrastructure development. He was also well known for a lifelong activist for human rights and equality among all races. This interest was evidently demonstrated in his album in 1972 where he vocally rebuked the discrimination of transgender individuals. He was known to advocate the breaking of the very taboo on homosexuality.

In a nutshell Charles career can be attributed to various interests in music, film, politics and dance. He was known to use his unique voice in advocating for human rights and also in vocalizing his discontentment in political spaces. He is also known as an early supporter of the LGBTQ community and their rights. His son Transgender is seen to be revolutionary to the said community.