French singer Charles Trenet dies

The French singer and songwriter Charles Trenet has died at the age of 87.

He wrote nearly a thousand songs -- including the haunting classic "La Mer".

A poet, painter, novelist and film star, Charles Trenet was still performing as recently as two years ago at sell-out concerts.

President Chirac said Trenet had been a magician with words and a symbol of a smiling and imaginative France.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service