Image Source: Wikipedia

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 1-25 of 123 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor E0VB-4719 10-in. 5/31/1950 La vie en rose Tony Martin ; Henri René Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble lyricist  
Victor E0VB-5124 10-in. 7/24/1950 La vie en rose Ralph Flanagan Orchestra Jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor D7VB-1853 10-in. 11/6/1947 You're too dangerous, cherie Freddy Martin Orchestra ; Stuart Wade Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band lyricist  
Columbia CO44682 10-in. 11/30/1950 Chante moi Robert Chauvigny ; Edith Piaf Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, composer  
Columbia CO44683 10-in. 11/30/1950 Autumn leaves Robert Chauvigny ; Edith Piaf Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia CO44684 10-in. 11/30/1950 Don't cry Robert Chauvigny ; Edith Piaf Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, composer  
Columbia CO44720 10-in. 12/12/1950 My lost melody Robert Chauvigny ; Edith Piaf Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia CO44738 10-in. 12/14/1950 I shouldn't care Robert Chauvigny ; Edith Piaf Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia CO44739 10-in. 12/14/1950 'Cause I love you Robert Chauvigny ; Edith Piaf Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, composer  
Victor (Canada) 9562 10-in. before July 1948 La vie en rose Lucio Agostini ; Alys Robi Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble lyricist  
Columbia (U.K.) CLX2465 12-in. 6/25/1946 Les trois cloches Compagnons de la Chanson ; Edith Piaf Female vocal solo and vocal ensemble vocalist  
Columbia (U.K.) CLX2466 12-in. 10/8/1946 Mariage Guy Luypaerts ; Edith Piaf Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia (U.K.) CLX2467 12-in. 10/8/1946 Le petit homme Guy Luypaerts ; Edith Piaf Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia (U.K.) CLX2468 12-in. 10/9/1946 J'm'en fous pas mal Guy Luypaerts ; Edith Piaf Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia (U.K.) CLX2530 12-in. 10/6/1947 Mariage Robert Chauvigny ; Edith Piaf Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia (U.K.) CLX2531 12-in. 10/7/1947 Un homme comme les autres Robert Chauvigny ; Edith Piaf Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, lyricist  
Columbia (U.K.) CLX2532 12-in. 10/7/1947 C'est pour ça Robert Chauvigny ; Compagnons de la Chanson ; Edith Piaf Female vocal solo, with vocal group vocalist  
Columbia (U.K.) CLX2600 12-in. 4/15/1948 [Piaf medley] Edith Piaf Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia (U.K.) CLX2601 12-in. 4/30/1948 Les yeux de ma mère Compagnons de la Chanson Female vocal solo, with orchestra and vocal ensemble songwriter  
Columbia (U.K.) CLX2633 12-in. 7/21/1948 Il a chanté Robert Chauvigny ; Edith Piaf Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia (U.K.) CLX2841 12-in. 5/5/1951 C'est toi Robert Chauvigny ; Eddie Constantine ; Edith Piaf Vocal duet, with orchestra vocalist, lyricist  
Columbia (U.K.) CLX2842 12-in. 5/5/1951 Chanson bleue Robert Chauvigny ; Choeur Raymond Saint-Paul ; Edith Piaf Female vocal solo, with orchestra and vocal ensemble vocalist, lyricist  
Columbia (U.K.) CL7498 10-in. 10/2/1941 Un coin tout bleu Pierre Chagnon ; Damia Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia (U.K.) CL7499 10-in. 10/2/1941 Tu es partout Pierre Chagnon ; Damia Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia (U.K.) CL7569 10-in. 1/22/1942 Mon amour vient de finir Pierre Chagnon ; Damia Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
(Results 1-25 of 123 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Piaf, Edith," accessed December 25, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/337595.

Piaf, Edith. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 25, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/337595.

"Piaf, Edith." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 25 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.