Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Germany October 1, 2018 France and Armenia mourn loss of 'unique' singing great Aznavour by Christian Boehmer, Sabine Glaubitz and Sebastien Kuenigkeit in Paris and Robin Powell in Berlin Paris (dpa) - One of France's most beloved singers and songwriters, Charles Aznavour, has died at the age of 94. The French-Armenian musician composed some 1,300 songs during his seven-decade career, and played roles in about 70 films. Aznavour's heartfelt, often raw delivery, and songs of love, family, life on the margins and his parents' native Armenia, won fans worldwide. He sold more than 180 million albums. President Emmanuel Macron described Aznavour as "profoundly French, attached viscerally to his Armenian roots and celebrated around the world." "His masterpieces, his voice, his unique brilliance will endure long after his death," Macron wrote on Twitter. His music had "accompanied three generations of joy and grief." "The French people will join the Armenian people in mourning," Macron said. "This is truly a painful day for the history of our people and our country," said Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. "Aznavour is a man who created not only national, but universal values, which for many years will accompany mankind towards love and solidarity, and will guide people for the righteous," Pashinyan said, according to state news agency Armenpress. A candle-lighting ceremony was being organized for 8 pm (1600 GMT) at Charles Aznavour Square in the Armenian capital Yerevan to remember the late singer. Aznavour's death brought an outpouring of grief on social media as soon as it was first reported, and was later confirmed by the mayor of the southern French commune of Mouries, where he had a residence. Born on May 22, 1924, he first started singing at his parents' Armenian restaurant in Paris at the age of 9. Performing was in his blood, following his singer father and his mother, an actress, who both arrived in Paris after fleeing violence in Armenia. A critical turning point for the singer, dubbed the "French Frank Sinatra," came in 1946, when he met one of the most famous songstresses at the time, Edith Piaf, who invited him on tour through France and the United States. Able to sing in eight languages, the diminutive Aznavour was regarded as the last great singer of "chansons" - poetic lyric-driven songs delivered in a half-sung, half-spoken style. Among his most well-known songs were "La Boheme," "Du laesst dich geh'n," and "She" - which was covered by Elvis Costello for the hit Hollywood film "Notting Hill." His own acting breakthrough came in the French New Wave, with "Don't Shoot the Pianist," directed by Francois Truffaut in 1960. Dozens more movie roles followed. Aznavour received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in August last year. Organizers described him as "an international recording artist and singing sensation."