FRANCE

French music icon Charles Aznavour dies

The legendary French singer Charles Aznavour—who said last week that he dreamed of breathing his last on stage—has died aged 94, his spokeswoman told AFP Monday.The songwriter, who had just returned from a concert tour of Japan last month, passed away in his home in Alpilles in southeastern France.He had to cancel several shows last year after breaking his arm in a fall.But as late as Friday the diminutive singer told French television that though his Swedish-born wife wanted him to stop touring, he would happily die on stage.“I always go forwards,” said the performer who tried to write a song every day. “There is no backwards step with me.“All I can do is live, and I live on stage. I am happy up there, and you can see that,” he added.