Edith Piaf, the iconic French singer, was born on December 19, 1915, in Paris, practically on the streets, to a family of street performers. Her mother, a singer, abandoned Edith and her father for a solo career, leaving Edith to face the harsh realities of life from a young age.
Edith spent her youth entertaining passersby, receiving little formal education in the process. She often accompanied her father's acrobat street act with her singing, and at various times, was forced to live with various relatives, in alleys, or in cheap hotels. An aborted love affair left her with a baby girl, Marcelle, at the age of 17, but tragically, Marcelle died of meningitis at the age of 2.
Devastated by the loss of her daughter, Edith returned to the streets, now performing solo. Her fortunes changed when Louis Leplee, an impresario, mesmerized by her talent, offered her a contract, taking her off the streets at the age of 20 and renaming her "La Mome Piaf" or "Kid Sparrow".
Edith grew in status, entertaining in elegant cafés and cabarets, and became a singing sensation among the chic French society with her throbbing vocals and raw, emotional power. From 1936, she recorded many albums and eventually became one of the highest-paid stars in the world.
Edith was embroiled in scandal when her mentor, Leplee, was murdered, and she was held for questioning. She managed to survive the messy affair and carry on, while her ever-growing society circle included elite members such as writer/director Jean Cocteau. Edith also took to writing and composing around this time, penning her signature standard, "La vie en rose".
Edith later toured the United States, branching out internationally. America was slow to accept her melodramatic style, but she persevered and eventually won legions of fans. She also continued a series of affairs with notable figures, including actor Paul Meurisse, composer Henri Contet, and boxing champion Marcel Cerdan.
The latter's death in a 1949 plane crash left Edith broken and devastated, and many claim this marked the beginning of her downfall. Edith had a lifelong habit of involving herself heart and soul in the launching of her lovers' careers, including Yves Montand and Eddie Constantine.
Two serious car accidents suffered in 1951 led to amphetamine and alcohol addiction, which left Edith's life spiraling out of control. Despite a potentially happy marriage in 1952 to actor Jacques Pills, Edith's health continued to decline, and she was eventually crippled by severe arthritis.
Edith's last appearance was at the Paris Olympia, racked and hunched over with pain and barely able to stand. Her last recorded song was "L'homme de Berlin" in 1963, the year of her death. Edith died in poverty on the same day as her friend Cocteau, at the age of 47, the same age as her American counterpart, Judy Garland.
Edith's funeral was massive, with Parisian traffic completely stopped, and a museum dedicated in her honor. Edith remains the epitome of the French singer in heart, soul, style, and passion, and for many devotees, Edith Piaf is France.
