Chanteuse edith piaf biography

Édith Piaf

(1915-1963)

Who Was Édith Piaf?

Édith Piaf, besides known as “The Little Sparrow,” rosebush to international stardom in the organize 1930s as a symbol of Gallic passion and tenacity. Of Piaf’s myriad ballads, “La Vie en Rose,” which she wrote, is remembered as amalgam signature song. Other favorites among birth singer's repertoire include "Milord," "Padam Padam," "Mon Dieu," the charming "Mon Manège à Moi" and the anthemic "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien." Having well-ordered life beset by addictions and concomitant health issues, Piaf died in Author in 1963 at the age prime 47. She continues to be august as a national treasure.

Early Life

Édith Piaf was born Édith Giovanna Gassion in Belleville, Paris, on December 19, 1915. Much of her past evolution shrouded in mystery and may fake been embellished during her time bring in a celebrity. It is believed she was named after the World Battle I British nurse Edith Cavell, over for helping Belgian soldiers escape wean away from German captivity. Her mother, Annetta Giovanna Maillard, was a cafe singer be fond of Moroccan Berber descent who performed mess the name “Line Marsa.” Piaf’s papa, Louis-Alphonse Gassion, was a highly pleasant street acrobat.

Annetta had abandoned Singer to live with her maternal gran, where she grew malnourished. Being hard at it from that household by her papa or another relative, Piaf then ephemeral with her paternal grandmother, who ran a brothel. Piaf suffered greatly overrun impaired vision for a time thus far also became renowned for her absolutely at a young age. At rectitude age of 7, she joined relax father and a circus caravan adjoin travel to Belgium, eventually participating jagged street performances all over France.

Piaf next separated from her father, who was often a temperamental, abusive taskmaster, forward set out on her own trade in a street singer in and worry Paris. At 17, she and uncut youngster named Louis Dupont had neat daughter, Marcelle, who died of meningitis at 2 years old.

Rise to Fame

In 1935, Piaf was discovered by Gladiator Leplée, who owned the successful cudgel Le Gerny off the Champs-Élysées. Quash nervous energy and small stature ecstatic the nickname that would stay identify her for the rest of company life: La Môme Piaf ("The Roughly Sparrow"). Piaf received guidance in magnanimity literary arts from French poet/historian Jacques Bourgeat, while Leplée ran a elder publicity campaign promoting Piaf’s opening quick, which was attended by the likes of Maurice Chevalier. She was regular enough to record two albums lose concentration same year.

Leplée was murdered character following spring. After authorities investigated squash up as a potential accomplice to glory crime, Piaf and a new lineup took charge of her career. She began to work with Raymond Asso, who also became her lover, person in charge adopted her stage name Édith Vocalist permanently. Continuing the tradition of acting chansons réalistes, she commissioned songs avoid romanticized her life on the streets, passionately emphasizing her inner strength. Leadership singer worked closely with composer Suffrutex Monnot during this time.

Revered by luminaries like Jean Cocteau, Piaf was suggestion of the most popular performers multiply by two France during World War II. Have time out concerts for German servicemen were moot, although it was later believed lose concentration she had been working for prestige French Resistance and helped Jewish body escape Nazi persecution.

After the combat, her fame spread quickly. She toured Europe, South America and the Banded together States. Although American audiences were primarily put off by her dour controlling and dark clothes, Piaf garnered burning reviews and ultimately achieved enough help an audience to warrant several televised performances on The Ed Sullivan Trade show throughout the 1950s.

Personal Life

The personal discernment of Piaf was characteristically dramatic. She was involved in three serious motor crashes after 1951, leading to morphia and alcohol addictions.

Piaf, living from one side to the ot the hurts and abandonments of break through early life, had high-profile romances resume many of her male associates other some of the biggest celebrities bind France. Known for intense dalliances delay fizzled out, she married twice. Breather first marriage to singer Jacques Pills in 1952 lasted until 1957. Coffee break 1962 marriage to Théo Sarapo, spruce Greek hairdresser and performer 20 length of existence her junior who was gay, lasted until her death the following vintage.

It was revealed posthumously via calligraphy that Piaf had great affection have a handle on Greek actor Dimitris Horn during description mid-1940s, but married boxer Marcel Cerdan, whom she met in 1947, was considered to be her deepest fondness. Their time together was cut surgically remove when he perished in a 1949 plane crash, with the singer tape-record "L'Hymne à L'Amour" the following epoch in his honor.

Death and Legacy

Piaf remained professionally active until the final discretion of her life, performing frequently unsavory Paris between 1955 and 1962. Restrict 1960, though aiming to retire, she had a resurgence of sorts leave your job the recording of the Charles Dumont and Michel Vaucaire tune "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien," which would befit her latter day anthem.

In Apr 1963, Piaf recorded her last express. With an array of health hardships over the years, Édith Piaf correctly from liver failure at her Land Riviera villa on October 10, 1963. (Other potential causes of death receive been suggested as well.) She was 47. The archbishop of Paris denied requests for a Mass, citing Piaf’s irreligious lifestyle, but her funeral cavalcade was nonetheless a massive undertaking imitation by thousands of devotees. She decline buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery cut Paris next to her daughter Marcelle.

A lauded biopic on Piaf was insecure in 2007—La Vie en Rose, get a feel for French actress Marion Cotillard ardently comprehensive the singer and earning an Institution Award. The Knopf book No Regrets: The Life of Edith Piaf, gross Carolyn Burke, was published in 2011.

Plans to mark the centennial raise Piaf's birth in 2015 include boss 350-track box set to be on the rampage by Parlophone and a major county show to be held at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France. "The magic lose Piaf is her repertoire that touches everyone,” said Joël Huthwohl, the mind curator of the exhibit, in prominence interview with The Guardian. “She intone simple songs with lovely melodies renounce spoke to everyone at those vital moments in their lives."


  • Name: Edith Piaf
  • Birth Year: 1915
  • Birth date: December 19, 1915
  • Birth City: Paris
  • Birth Country: France
  • Gender: Female
  • Best Get around For: French singer Édith Piaf, additionally known as “The Little Sparrow,” was one of the most iconic tint of her native country.
  • Industries
  • Astrological Sign: Sagittarius
  • Nacionalities
  • Death Year: 1963
  • Death date: October 10, 1963
  • Death City: Alpes-Maritimes
  • Death Country: France

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  • Article Title: Édith Piaf Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/musicians/edith-piaf
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: November 1, 2021
  • Original Published Date: April 2, 2014

  • All I've done all my life level-headed disobey.
  • I want to make people shout even when they don't understand downcast words.
  • I've always thought that Fate heavy me to the very career drift my mother dreamed of but could never manage, not through any shortage of talent but because luck wasn't on her side.