Piaf, << PEE ahf, >> Edith (1915-1963), was a French singer whose frail appearance, difficult life, and haunting singing style made her a legend in France.
Piaf’s real name was Edith Giovanna Gassion. She was born on Dec. 19, 1915, in Paris. Her father was a noted acrobat. Piaf’s mother deserted her as an infant. The girl went blind for a short time about the age of 4, probably as a result of an infection. She received little formal education. As a child, Piaf traveled with her father as a singer and his assistant. At the age of about 15, she began singing on the streets and in cheap cabarets. One proprietor named her “Piaf,” which was Parisian slang for “little sparrow.” The nickname suited her delicate, childlike appearance. She was only 4 feet 10 inches (147 centimeters) tall and weighed about 90 pounds (41 kilograms).
Tragedy marked Piaf’s personal life. Her only child died in infancy. A man she loved, French boxer Marcel Cerdan, was killed in a plane crash. Such misfortunes were reflected in the sad and nostalgic ballads she sang, some of which she composed. Her most famous song was “La vie en rose.” Her other famous songs included “Milord” (1959), and “Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien” (1960). Piaf died in Cannes, France, on Oct. 11,1963.
