Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Charles Trenet

Role / Field:

Iconic French singer-songwriter, known for composing nearly 1,000 songs.

Born:

1913-05-18

Died:

2001-02-19

Century / Era:

1913s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Louis Charles Augustin Georges Trenet (French pronunciation: [lwi ʃaʁl oɡystɛ̃ ʒɔʁʒ tʁenɛ] ; 18 May 1913 – 19 February 2001) was a renowned French singer-songwriter who composed both the music and the lyrics for nearly 1,000 songs over a career that lasted more than 60 years. These songs include "Boum!" (1938), "La Mer" (1946) and "Nationale 7" (1955). Trenet is also noted for his work with musicians Michel Emer and Léo Chauliac, with whom he recorded "Y'a d'la joie" (1938) for the first and "La Romance de Paris" (1941) and "Douce France" (1947) for the latter. He was awarded an Honorary Molière Award in 2000.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Trenet was born in Avenue Charles Trenet, Narbonne, Occitanie, France, the son of Françoise Louise Constance (Caussat) and Lucien Etienne Paul Trenet. When he was age seven (1920), his parents divorced, and he was sent to boarding school in Béziers, but he returned home just a few months later, suffering from typhoid fever. It was during his convalescence at home that he developed his artistic talents, such as performing music, painting and sculpting. His mother remarried, and he lived with her and his stepfather, writer Benno Vigny. In 1922, Trenet moved to...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

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• 1913 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1913
• May 18 (05-18) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on May 18
• 2001 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2001
• February 19 (02-19) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on February 19

Frequently Asked Questions about Charles Trenet