Georges Garvarentz

Georges Diran Garvarentz (Armenian: 1 April 1932 - 19 March 1993) was an Armenian-French composer, noted for his music for films and Charles Aznavour's songs. Georges Garvarents was born in Athens, Greece, to a family of Armenian immigrants. His father, literature professor and poet Kevork Garvarentz, was the author of the Armenian military anthem. In 1942 Garvarentz's family moved to Paris, France, where Georges attended Conservatoire de Paris. In 1956 Georges met Charles Aznavour and started writing music for his songs. Together they wrote over 100 songs, including Prends garde à toi (1956), Et pourtant (1962), Il faut saisir sa chance (1962), Retiens la nuit (1962), Hier Encore (1964), Paris au mois d'août (Paris in August, 1966), Une vie d'amour (1980). In 1965 Georges married Charles Aznavour's sister, Aida Aznavourian. Georges Garvarentz also composed over 150 film scores, including scores for Un taxi pour Tobrouk (Taxi for Tobruk, 1960), Les Parisiennes (Tales of Paris, 1962), Le Diable et les dix commandements (The Devil and the Ten Commandments, 1962), Le Rat d'Amérique (Rat Trap, 1963), Estambul 65 (That Man in Istanbul, 1965), Caroline chérie (Dear Caroline, 1968), Sapho ou La fureur d'aimer (Saffo, 1971), Someone Behind the Door (1971), Killer Force (1976), Teheran 43 (1981), Yiddish Connection (1986), Catorce estaciones (Fourteen Stations, 1991) In 1979 he co-wrote 'The Golden Lady' for The Three Degrees with lead singer Sheila Ferguson. Garvarentz is the author of a musical comedy Deux anges sont venus and an operetta Douchka.