French icon Charles Aznavour, one of the 20th century’s most prolific entertainers who continues to write and perform at 93, was honoured Thursday with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

With a career spanning eight decades, the crooner has recorded 1,400 songs — 1,300 of which he wrote and produced over 390 albums in multiple languages.

The star, who is also credited in more than 60 movies, defied detractors who pointed to his unconventional looks to become one of France’s most iconic singers, dubbed the country’s Frank Sinatra.

Aznavour delivered a brief message thanking well-wishers, explaining that he rarely speaks publicly in English as he doesn’t feel his command of the language is good enough.

“French is my working language but my family language is always Armenian, after today, after that star there, I can be somebody that can say I’m also now a little bit Californian because I have my daughter here and my grandchildren.”

Born Shahnour Varinag Aznavourian in Paris to Armenian immigrants on May 22, 1924, Aznavour has sold more than 100 million records.

Aznavour’s parents fled the Turkish-ruled Ottoman empire to escape the massacres being committed against their compatriots and landed in Paris, where they were waiting for a visa to head to the United States.

When the visa never materialised they ended up making their home in France, producing shows which Aznavour and his sister would take part in from a very young age.

He said in a recent interview with BBC radio he always saw himself “more as an actor who sings than a singer who acts.”

Aznavour left school early and said he was always uncomfortable about his lack of higher education but after World War II he teamed up with fellow French icon Edith Piaf, who took him to America and a solo career.

AFP