Legendary world-famous singer died at the age of 94

The French master of the romantic ballad Charles Aznavour passed away.

In a 2013 interview, French crooner Charles Aznavour declared that he intended to sing until he was 100 years old. He nearly made it.

The legendary singer passed away on October 1, 2018, at his home in the village of Mouriès in the south of France at the ripe old age of 94 - and he had just returned from a concert tour of Japan.

The French Culture Ministry emitted a statement, and government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux posted on Twitter: “Thank you, M. Aznavour,” a heartfelt sentiment towards the man who put French popular music on the world map.

“What were my faults? My voice, my size, my gestures, my lack of culture and education, my honesty, or my lack of personality. My voice? I cannot change it. The teachers I consulted all agreed I shouldn’t sing, but nevertheless, I continued to sing until my throat was sore.”

Charles Aznavour, TorontoSun, October 20, 2018.

FRANCE'S MOST CELEBRATED ROMANTIC SINGER WAS A SONGWRITER

Aznavour started his career in music as a songwriter, and one of his first patrons was none other than the French Diva Edit Piaf.

Aznavour was to write over 1000 songs throughout his prolific career, including the classic "La Boheme," and the iconic and sensual "The Old-Fashioned Way." His hit song "She" was re-recorded by Elvis Costello for the romantic comedy "Notting Hill" and would top the charts once again in 1999, 25 years after its original release in 1974.

THE ULTIMATE PERFORMER WITH AN INTIMATE STYLE

Aznavour was often compared to Frank Sinatra, and curiously enough he started singing in America. He was touring in New York with Edit Piaf as a piano player, and she encouraged him to start performing his own songs.

80 YEARS SINGING LIVE OF LOVE AND HEARTBREAK

Aznavour's career spanned 8 decades and he sold more than 180 million records throughout the world to millions of devoted fans, but his charismatic live performances were his tour de force right until the end of his life.

SINGING WITH HIS LAST BREATH

Aznavour celebrated his 80th birthday by singing at the prestigious Palais des Congres in Paris, his 90th was celebrated with a concert in Berlin, and the tireless singer was scheduled to go on tour again in November 2018.

BRITS SAY GOODBYE TO ANOTHER UNFORGETTABLE MAN

In a season of losses, another man who marked the lives and childhoods of millions passed away. On September 20, 2018, Britain bid farewell to John Cunliffe, 85.

Cunliffe was the creator of the beloved characters Rosie and Jim and Postman Pat from the beloved children's stories that inspired the TV show "Postman Pat."

Cunliffe wrote the original scripts, and the show was brought to life by animator/director Ivor Wood, who also worked on the "Magic Roundabout", "The Wombles", and "Paddington Bear."

Cunliffe's last work was a poetry collection, appropriately entitled "Dare You Go." He is gone, but he has left behind a legacy of thousand-thousand childhood memories in millions of hearts.

In a related story, 2018 has seen the death of many celebrities and singers and actors and has left the world all the poorer for the loss of their talent