Corneille

R&B singer Corneille spent the majority of his childhood in Africa, absorbing numerous musical traditions that influenced the child prodigy, who first recorded his own original songs at age 16. His budding music career ground to a horrifying halt, however, when a Rwandan military team stormed his home and murdered his family. Reeling from the ordeal, he fled, eventually settling in Canada. He found pop music success with his 2003 debut LP, Parce Qu'on Vient de Loin, a powerful and often harrowing song cycle inspired the horrible events of his past. The title cut and "Seul au Monde" were both huge hits, and earned Corneille numerous award nominations. Corneille's much-anticipated sophomore effort, Les Marchands de Rêves, finally hit stores in November 2005 ~ Jason Ankeny