Charles Trenet

Talk story about the French singer and songwriter Charles Trenet, who recently gave a concert at Avery Fisher Hall. At 74, M. Trenet has again become a French institution. During the '30's and '40's he was the idol of Paris. Trenet has been performing steadily in night clubs, concert halls, and films for more than 50 years. Lately, Trenet has been appearing on French television--and has found an army of new fans who snap up his reissued records and pack every one of his live performances. His songs--he has written more than 900--range for ballads about love, the joy of living, and happy childhood to bizarre tales that bring to mind Surrealistic images. Some of his most popular songs have acquired English lyrics--"At Last! At Last!," "Beyond the Sea," and "I Wish You Love"--and have been recorded by the likes of Sinatra, Streisand, and George Benson. But nearly always Trenet has written his songs with himself in mind, and to properly appreciate them one needs to hear him sing them in person. Writer talks to him in the Polo Lounge of the Westbury Hotel the day before the concert. His manager, Gilbert Rozon, was also there. Trenet spoke of his childhood; he grew up in Narbonne and started out as a painter. Now he divided his time among several houses. He explained "An artist never retires."... "I will go on singing until I see people running for the exits."

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