Artist bigraphy: Patricia Kaas

The French singer and actress Patricia Kaas was born in the French area of Forbach on 5 December 1966. Her music amalgamates pop, jazz and French chanson, and attracts fans from both French and non-French speaking regions, including: Germany, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, Canada, Russia and Korea. Since the onset of her career in 1988, Kaas has sold over 17 million records worldwide, rendering her one of Frances most successful female artists. Her smoky tones and outlandish stage performances have evoked comparisons with the likes of Madonna, and she is often hailed the new Édith Piaf.

Kaas debut album Mademoiselle chante le blues was released in 1987, and reached number two in the French album charts. After three months the album went platinum, and to date has sold over 3 million copies worldwide. In 1990 Kaas moved from Polydor to Sony, when she recorded her second album Scène de vie. It hit the number one spot in the French charts and remained there for 10 weeks. However, it was her third recording, Jet te di vous, which afforded her international acclaim; the album sold 3 million copies in 47 countries. It also featured songs written in German and English, including a cover of the famous soul singer James Browns hit, Its a Mans World.

In 1997 Kaas collaborated with French singer Jean-Jacques Goldman on the ballad-inflected Dans ma chair. The album also featured a duet with James Taylor, and became one of Frances best-selling albums worldwide. Kaas collaborated with Goldman a second time on Le mot de passe in 1999, a more orchestral-inspired recording which also included French singer Zazies Je compte jusqu'à toi.

In 2002 Kaas released the concept album Piano Bar, sung mainly in English, a perfect exposition of Kaas Dietrich-esque huskiness. The Piano Bar live tour saw Kaas performing to French and non-French speaking fans in Europe and the US. Following the release of her eighth solo album Sexe fort in 2003, Kaas received the First Class Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for her contribution to Franco-German relations. Kaas embarked on another grand live tour in 2005, performing to audiences in excess of 500,000 in 25 countries. Her latest album, Kabaret, was released in November 2008.