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Edith Piaf

Édith Giovanna Gassion (19 December 1915 – 10 October 1963), known as Édith Piaf (French: [edit pjaf]), was a French singer and lyricist best known for performing songs in the cabaret and modern chanson genres. She is widely regarded as France's greatest popular singer and one of the most celebrated performers of the 20th century.

Having begun her career touring with her father at age fourteen, she was discovered in 1935 in Paris by night club owner Louis Leplée, and achieved her first successes in the "Theatre de l'ABC" among others with the song "Mon Légionnaire". Owner of the ABC music hall Mitty Goldin also wrote songs for her, e.g. "Demain", and produced some of her songs. Her fame increased during the German occupation of France, shortly after which (in 1945) she wrote the lyrics to her signature song, "La Vie en rose" ('life in pink'). She became France's most popular entertainer in the late 1940s, also touring Europe, South America and the United States, where her popularity led to eight appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Piaf continued to perform, including several series of concerts at the Paris Olympia music hall, until a few months before her death in 1963 at age 47. Her last song, "L'Homme de Berlin", was recorded with her husband Théo Sarapo in April 1963. Since her death, several documentaries and films have been produced about Piaf's life as a touchstone of French culture.

Piaf's music was often autobiographical, and she specialized in chanson réaliste and torch ballads about love, loss and sorrow. In addition to her signature song, her most widely known songs include "Non, je ne regrette rien" (1960), "Hymne à l'amour" (1949), "Milord" (1959), "La Foule" (1957), "L'Accordéoniste" (1940), and "Padam, padam..." (1951).

Birth and Death Data: Born Paris (capital city and largest city of France), Died October 10, 1963 (Grasse (commune in Alpes-Maritimes, France) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1941 - 1955

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, lyricist, songwriter, composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 101-123 of 123 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia (U.K.) CL9619 10-in. 12/24/1953 Johnny, tu n'es pas un ange Robert Chauvigny ; Edith Piaf Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia (U.K.) CL9686 10-in. 2/16/1954 La goualante du pauvre Jean Robert Chauvigny ; Edith Piaf Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia (U.K.) CL9693 10-in. 2/17/1954 Heureuse Robert Chauvigny ; Choeur Marguerite Murcier ; Edith Piaf Female vocal solo, with orchestra and vocal ensemble vocalist  
Columbia (U.K.) CL9746 10-in. 4/10/1954 Le "ca ira" Robert Chauvigny ; Choeur Marguerite Murcier ; Edith Piaf Female vocal solo, with orchestra and vocal ensemble vocalist  
Columbia (U.K.) CL9884 10-in. 10/20/1954 Sous le ciel de Paris Robert Chauvigny ; Choeur Marguerite Murcier ; Edith Piaf Female vocal solo, with orchestra and vocal ensemble vocalist  
Columbia (U.K.) CL9885 10-in. 10/20/1954 Avec ce soleil Robert Chauvigny ; Edith Piaf Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia (U.K.) CL9888 10-in. 10/27/1954 Mea culpa Robert Chauvigny ; Edith Piaf Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia (U.K.) CL9889 10-in. 10/27/1954 Enfin le printemps Robert Chauvigny ; Edith Piaf Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia (U.K.) CL9917 10-in. 11/23/1954 L'homme au piano Robert Chauvigny ; Edith Piaf Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia (U.K.) CL9918 10-in. 11/24/1954 Retour Marc Herrand ; Edith Piaf Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia (U.K.) CL10007 10-in. 2/16/1955 Un grand amour qui s'achève Robert Chauvigny ; Jacques Pills Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble lyricist, composer  
Columbia (U.K.) CL10026 10-in. 2/28/1955 Le chemin des forains Robert Chauvigny ; Edith Piaf Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia (U.K.) CL10027 10-in. 2/28/1955 C'est a Hambourg Robert Chauvigny ; Edith Piaf Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia (U.K.) CL10028 10-in. 2/28/1955 Un grand amour qui s'achève Robert Chauvigny ; Edith Piaf Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, songwriter  
Columbia (U.K.) CL10029 10-in. 2/28/1955 Miséricorde Robert Chauvigny ; Edith Piaf Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Decca FO 1683 2/7/1947 Le geste (The gesture) Edith Piaf vocalist  
Decca FO 1684 2/7/1947 Si tu partais (If you should leave me) Edith Piaf vocalist  
Decca FO 1685 2/7/1947 Les cloches sonnent (The bells are ringing) Edith Piaf vocalist  
Decca FO 1686 2/7/1947 Monsieur Ernest a réussi (Mr. Ernest has succeeded) Edith Piaf vocalist  
Decca FO 1687 2/7/1947 Sophie Edith Piaf vocalist  
Decca FO 1692 2/10/1947 Une chanson à trois temps Edith Piaf vocalist  
Decca FO 2134 7/12/1948 Monsieur X (Mr. X) Edith Piaf vocalist  
Decca FO 2167 8/6/1948 Amour du mois de Mai (Love in the month of May) Edith Piaf vocalist  
(Results 101-123 of 123 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Piaf, Edith," accessed January 6, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/337595.

Piaf, Edith. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 6, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/337595.

"Piaf, Edith." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 6 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/337595

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