Joe Dassin (1938 to 1980) was one of the most beloved singers in French music, even though he was born in New York City. The son of American film director Jules Dassin, he moved to Europe as a child and rose to stardom in France in the late 1960s and 1970s.
With his warm voice and romantic style, he recorded enduring classics like 'Les Champs-Élysées', 'L'Été indien' and 'Et si tu n'existais pas', selling close to 25 million records. He sang mainly in French but also recorded in other languages. Dassin died of a heart attack in 1980 at just 41, yet his songs remain radio staples across the French-speaking world.