Though Distel wasn't nearly as spry on the instrument as his compatriot René Thomas, he was richly melodic, clever with harmony and had a gentle but ambitious swinging feel. [Pictured above, from left ...

In the 1960s, one of France's biggest heartthrobs was Sacha Distel. A TV variety-show host with movie-star looks and a gentle, romantic persona, Distel seemed to melt the hearts of female singers who ...