​French Singer Charles Aznavour Dead at 94

BY Sarah MurphyPublished Oct 1, 2018

Paris-born crooner Charles Aznavour, known as "the Frank Sinatra of France," has died at the age of 94.
 
His career spanned eight decades, and throughout his career, he sold more than 180 million records.
 
Aznavour got his start as a songwriter for Edith Piaf, and would go on to influence and collaborate with stars like Liza Minnelli.
 
His work even went on to be sampled by artists like Eminem, Mick Jenkins, Common, KRS-One and the Cure. "She" was famously covered by Elvis Costello in the film Notting Hill.
 
He also appeared in many films, including Tirez sue le Pianiste, Die Blechtrommel and Ararat — the latter of which explored the 1915 massacres of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire, a historical event that Aznavour campaigned to have officially designated a genocide.
 
He also showed support for his Armenian roots by founding the non-profit Aznavour and Armenia in the wake of a devastating 1988 earthquake. After the Soviet Union crumbled, Aznavour frequently visited Armenia and was eventually named the country's UNESCO ambassador.
 
He also achieved many artistic awards throughout his career, including the National Order of Merit in France in 2001, as well as the National Order of Quebec in 2009.
 
Aznavour performed right up until the end of his life, completing a tour of Japan last month. He had plans to tour France beginning in November.

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