Gilbert Bécaud

Known as "Monsieur 100,000 Volts" for his dynamic stage presence, Gilbert Bécaud was one of France's most popular singers during the 1950s and '60s, and enjoyed a career of more than four decades in show business. Bécaud is best known for his 1961 smash "Et Maintenant," which became a pop standard in the English-speaking world after it was translated as "What Now My Love." He was also an occasional film actor, a highly successful songwriter with over 150 credits, and an ambitious composer. But his primary impact came as a singer. Bécaud's energetic showmanship drove his audiences into a frenzy, as they strove to match his boundless enthusiasm. ~ Steve Huey