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Edith Piaf

France's "Little Sparrow" was the stuff of legend. Edith Piaf remains one of the most influential singers of the 20th century. Her dramatic singing style and her anguished voice appealed to French audiences and by the outbreak of World War II she had become a star. After the war, Piaf's reputation spread internationally and she appeared in New York, singing at Carnegie Hall. In her private life Piaf was as tormented as the heroines of her songs. She had many tumultuous relationships, most causing her severe emotional damage that was reflected in her passionate performances.