Did you know Charles Aznavour made love rhyme with problem? Here at Allée Charles Aznavour we celebrate a man who captured the entire spectrum of life in song. Aznavour, born Shahnour Varenagh Aznavourian in Paris in 1924, was the son of Armenian immigrants. They were fleeing the Turkish genocide of 1915.
His parents were involved in show business. Aznavour followed in their footsteps. He started in theatre. Later he joined ‘Le Club de la Chanson’. There he met Pierre Roche. They became close friends and formed a duo.
Edith Piaf noticed their act. She invited them to tour with her in New York and Quebec. The tour was a triumph. However life in Quebec did not suit Charles.
In 1950 he returned to Paris. Edith welcomed him. But she insisted he succeed on his own. Aznavour dismissed Roche. He became Piaf’s handyman. She called him her “stupid genius”. He was her chauffeur, lighting and sound man, accountant and producer. He was just 26 years old.
Paradoxically Piaf never believed in Aznavour as a singer. She admitted his talent as a writer. But she thought he lacked the voice, physique and personality to succeed.
In 1952, at 28, he signed with a minor record company. He released a series of records. These cemented his reputation as a writer. But he failed to achieve recognition as a singer. In 1954 he landed a contract at the Moulin Rouge. The public loved him.
The press attacked his looks, physique, his love of money, his nose and his voice. They called him “the man with a sore throat”. In 1955 he performed at the Olympia. The press was still lukewarm. But the public raved. It was the start of his climb to fame.
Following his success he released an anthology. It included a song about post-coital bliss. French radio banned it. But Aznavour wanted to show that no subject was off-limits for chanson.
Aznavour never hid his Christian roots. He released a song about the road to eternity. In 1956 he released “Sa Jeunesse”. It became a cornerstone of his repertoire. It brought the house down at the Olympia.
Five years after leaving Piaf he was a star. The press remained ambivalent. But Aznavour had found his cruising speed. In 1959 he starred in his first major film. This heralded a parallel career in cinema. He would eventually star in 60 films.
In 1959 he signed with Barclay. This triggered a golden period. He shared the summit of French chanson with others. He chose Paul Mauriat as his arranger. He believed an American could not truly understand French chanson.
They produced their first album in 1960. One song became a landmark of chanson. It portrayed a husband bored with his marriage. It was a daring mix of positivity and poetry.
In December 1960 he performed at the Alhambra. Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington attended. His first six songs received polite applause. The seventh received silence. He thought the audience was leaving. But when he returned they were on their feet.
He had found his destiny. Charles Aznavour had entered chanson history. He had the ability to connect with a huge audience. In 1961 he befriended Johnny Hallyday. He offered advice, lessons and a song. Despite their different styles they became lifelong friends.
Here at Allée Charles Aznavour remember a star of French and Armenian culture. He proved that even with a “frog in his throat” one can connect with the world. Aznavour showed us that love rhymes with problem.