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 ...

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 ...