French singer Trenet’s heir sues Danish firm for theft

French singer-songwriter Charles Trenet’s former secretary and sole heir appeared in court Friday in a law suit against a Danish firm he accuses of stealing valuable objects and memorabilia.

Georges El Assidi, who served Trenet in the last two decades up to his death in 2001 at the age of 87, is suing the Danish firm Nest over 92 objects he claims were taken from Trenet’s lavish villa in the Cap d’Antibes.

They include a white-lacquered billiards table, an upright piano, an Aubusson carpet and several paintings.

The court in the southern French city of Grasse deferred its ruling till January 29. The 52-year-old Assidi is seeking 210,000 euros (273,000) in damages and the return of the objects.

Although perhaps best known for his song “La Mer,” Trenet was a legend and a prolific writer with more than 1,000 titles to his credit. His career spanned six decades.

Assidi says he sold the villa and the rights to Trenet’s royalties for a combined figure of 5.5 million euros to a Danish firm, SAS, but did not receive any money.

The iconic mansion, resembling an ocean liner, was designed by Trenet himself.

Assidi also sold SAS sketches by French writer and artist Jean Cocteau and other memorabilia for 250,000 euros.

He says Nest, which is controlled by the owners of SAS, then occupied the villa illegally. Assidi claims he is living in near poverty in a small house on the outskirts of Paris lent by a friend.

Trenet’s hits included the wartime song “Que reste-t-il de nos amours?” which later became famous to the US and British public under the title “I Give You Love.”

His success was born of his distinctive style of French “chanson” wedded to American swing rhythms.