Charles Trenet

Charles Trenet was among the last of his kind of singer, a holdover from the era of pre-World War II France and the prime of Maurice Chevalier. Originally an art student, Trenet turned to singing in his early twenties. His smooth, light baritone was attractive and his persona won over audiences in music hall performances, where he became known as "Le Fou Chantant" (The Singing Fool). Trenet composed as well as sang and enjoyed his first big hit in 1939 with "Boum." His biggest success was "La Mer," a song that Bobby Darin turned into an English-language hit (as "Beyond the Sea"). ~ Bruce Eder