Community Chat

[ms traditional]

Aznavour was very much connected to his Armenian heritage and its lessons.  his parents escaped the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1918.  living in Paris, his family with its history felt a responsibility to help the Jews in the dark years of Nazism, sheltering a number of them over the course of WWII.  they also took in Armenian soldiers drafted to help the Nazis when they deserted. Aznavour himself was connected to the modern state of Armenia, active in many Armenian humanitariancauses.

the Raoul Wallenberg Medal was bestowed on Aznavour and his sister by the state of Israel to recognize the efforts of his family in helping Jews.he was made a citizen of modern Armenia and given its highest honor.   a square is named after him in Yerevan and also there stands the Charles Aznavour Museum.

quite a man.

[bonnielu]

@ms traditional  Yes, quite a hero.  Thanks for posting this

[Oznell]

Wow, I didn't know all that exemplary history about Charles Aznavour, @ms traditional, only that he had Armenian heritage.  What a legacy to be proud of.

On a more frivolous and minor trivia note, as a long-time fan of Mike Connors (of TV detective "Mannix" fame), I found out a while back that Aznavour and Mike Connors (born Krekor Ohanian, I believe) were cousins.... 

[ms traditional]

hi @Oznell.  oh i didn't know that about Mike Connors and Charles Aznavour.  very interesting!

[riley1]

@OznellOops, sorry, @golding76 Thank You

[golding76]

No problem, Riley.  It was my pleasure to give an option of some beautiful songs. 

(By the way, I've done the same thing several times myself.) 

[golding76]

oznell,

What an odd pairing for cousins -- Mike Connors and Charles Aznavour. (But I have that in my own family, too.)

That showbiz gene was there in the DNA.

[ALRATIBA]

I only have one of his CDs .... just checked - I bought it in 1999!  I haven't listened to it in a while .... I'll play it tonght.

Charles Aznavour's Greatest Hits.

[golding76]

Enjoy your album, ALRATIBA.

This link will take you to Aznavour himself singing "Yesterday (When I Was Young)."

There are some very nice personal photos mixed in the video.

https://www.google.com/search?q=charles+aznavour+singing+yesterday+when+i+was+young&oq=Charles+Aznav...

[dulwich]

So sad to read of his death brought back a wonderful memory.

When DH done a 'big deal' in his business in U.K. 20 years ago we celebrated went to south of France - Juan les Pins -  friends met us at airport in a white Rolls Royce went to a wonderful hotel, casino, evening clothes then the midnight show was Charles Aznavour - superb.

What a great time we had listening to him sing r.i.p. Charles thank you.