Yves Jamait

As a teen, French pop iconoclast Yves Jamait discovered the music of protest singer Maxime le Forestier and began writing his own songs, later co-founding the group L'Adam de Sagesse. Jamait's music career nevertheless foundered, and upon starting a family he began working a series of factory jobs. He continued moonlighting at local clubs, however, and fronted the group De Verre en Vers. In 2001, the group signed to Wagram to issue its self-titled debut LP, prompting the then-38-year-old Jamait to finally quit his day job. The album proved a significant French hit, and five years later Jamait issued the follow-up, Le Coquelicot, under his own name. ~ Jason Ankeny