Patrick Bruel

Actor and singer Patrick Bruel became one of France's biggest stars during the '90s, first making his name as a teen idol, then leading a return to traditional French chanson in the new millennium. Bruel continued to act and cut his first single, "Vide," in 1982, but his recording breakthrough came with 1989's Alors Regarde. The French number one sold over two million copies. Bruel had already covered classic French chansons, usually in concert, but in 2002, he jumped into the style with both feet on Juste Avant. His audience followed the move, helping to keep traditional French pop alive and vital for new generations. He had his sixth number one album in 2012, and in 2013, Bruel became a César-nominated actor for Le Prénom. ~ Steve Huey