Charles Trenet

Steeped in both American Swing and French joie de vivre, Charles Trenet's Paris was a place for star-eyed lovers, not doomed ones. His charming, easygoing baritone stood in stark contrast to other French stars of the day. Unlike Edith Piaf, he didn't harshly over enunciate words or roll his "R's" like a mad baker strangling baguettes. His voice was a wonderful vehicle to sell his own great songs -- two of which, "Beyond the Sea" and "I Wish You Love," have become English language standards. Yves Montand and Charles Aznavour were two of his best, if more melancholy, students.