1913-05-18

The French singer, songwriter and writer, CHARLES TRENET was born on this date (d. 2001). Born in Narbonne. He was one of France most famous chansonniers.

Trenet wrote his first song when he was ten. He studied at the Academie des Arts Decoratives in Paris and made his first recording in 1934, together with Swiss singer Johnny Hess as the duo ‘Charles et Johnny’.

Trenet was known as ‘Le Fou Chantant’ (“The singing fool”). Hits: La Mer (popularized in the U.S. by Bobby Darin in 1960 under the title ‘Beyond The Sea‘ and recently by Robbie Williams), Douce France (1943), Menilmontant, Printemps a Rio, Boum! Albums: Olympia 1975, Le Fou Chantant 1937-1950, Mon coeur s’envole (1994)