Charles Aznavour, known as France’s Sinatra, dies at 94
PARIS — Charles Aznavour’s performing career endured eight decades, with a prompter in his final years the sole concession to age — or to difficulty recalling a 1,000-song repertoire.
Known as France’s Frank Sinatra, the dapper crooner and actor, who got his start as a songwriter and protege of Edith Piaf, died Monday at 94.
His versatile tenor, lush lyrics and kinetic stage presence endeared himself to fans the world over, but nowhere more so than in France. He sang to sold-out concert halls into his 90s and said he wrote every single day.
“I throw most of it away. You write first, judge later,” he said in a 2015 interview before the release of the album “Encores.”