Mireille Mathieu

Chanteuse Mireille Mathieu is widely known for her illustrious French crooning during the '60s and '70s. Born in Avignon, France, Mathieu saved her money from working in a factory to pay for singing lessons. In the early '60s, Johnny Hallyday's manager Johnny Stark noticed Mathieu's enchanting beauty and built her into a star with a classic urchin hairdo and vibrant clothing. Hailed as the next Edith Piaf, Mathieu began a recording relationship with Barclay Records following 1965 performances at the Paris Olympia. Singles such as "Mon Credo," "C'est Ton Nom," and "Qu'elle Est Belle" made Mathieu a star in Europe, with her cover of Englebert Humperdinck's "The Last Waltz" hitting the British charts. Humperdinck returned the favor by choosing to sing Mathieu's "Les Bicyclettes de Belsize." ~ MacKenzie Wilson