Piaf

n 1935, Piaf was discovered in the Pigalle area of Paris[2] by nightclub owner Louis Leplée,[5] whose club Le Gerny's off the Champs-Élysées[8] was frequented by the upper and lower classes alike. He persuaded her to sing despite her extreme nervousness, which, combined with her height of only 142 centimetres (4 ft 8 in),[6][19] inspired him to give her the nickname that would stay with her for the rest of her life and serve as her stage name, La Môme Piaf[5] (Paris slang meaning "The Waif Sparrow" or "The Little Sparrow").[2] Leplée taught her the basics of stage presence and told her to wear a black dress, which became her trademark apparel.