Born on August 2, 1971, in Tunisia (but raised in Paris), singer Samia Farah found herself being hailed as one of French pop's most promising new artists by the dawn of the 21st century. As a teenager, Farah became influenced by such varied musical styles as reggae, jazz, and rap, as well as such noted vocalists as Muhammad Abd al-Wallhah, Sarah Vaughan, and Nina Simone -- which inspired her to begin singing and find her own style. Signed to Sony in the late '90s, Farah's self-titled debut was released in 1999. ~ Greg Prato