BOUM!: The Life And Art Of Charles Trenet
Alan Clayson, unpublished, February 2001
A MORE TIDY-minded author might portray Charles Trenet (1913-2001) as a French Noel Coward. A multi-faceted talent, he was best known for combining qualities of singing star and intellectual. Certainly, he was the most popular Gallic chansonnier before the advent of figures like Charles Aznavour, Jacques Brel, Claude Francois, Serge Gainsbourg and others who acknowledged his influence. "Without him, we would all be chartered accountants," said Brel.
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