Fans around world pay tribute to French ‘Frank Sinatra’
PARIS — France is paying tribute to the late singer and actor Charles Aznavour in a ceremony to be held in the courtyard of Les Invalides in Paris.
One of France’s most famous personalities, Aznavour died earlier this week at the age of 94.
Politicians and celebrities, including actor Jean-Paul Belmondo, have started to gather at the site of Napoleon’s tomb, where French president Emmanuel Macron were expected to deliver a speech later Friday.
Aznavour, the crooner whose performing career spanned eight decades and who sold more than 180 million record, was one of France’s most recognized faces abroad. He sang to sold-out concert halls until the end and wrote more than 1,000 songs, including the classics “La Boheme” and “She.”
Often compared to Frank Sinatra, Aznavour started his career as a songwriter for Edith Piaf. The French chanteuse took him under her wing. Like her, his fame ultimately reached well outside France: Aznavour was named entertainer of the century in an online poll by CNN and Time magazine in 1999.
