Amaury Vassili

Amaury Vassili, a French classical pop singer hailed as "the world's youngest tenor," drew early influence from Josh Groban, Il Divo, and Florent Pagny. He entered the world in Rouen, Upper Normandy, in 1989, where an affinity for opera took hold during childhood; at 14 he claimed victory in a singing contest by performing Jacques Brel's "Amsterdam," prompting him to commit to a musical path. French TV producer Daniel Moyne soon spotted his talent, leading to a Warner Music contract, the 2009 release of debut album Vincero, an opening slot on Katherine Jenkins's U.K. tour, and a guest spot covering "Endless Love" on the deluxe edition of her seventh album, Believe. The following year he completed his sophomore effort, Cantero, yet international attention arrived in 2011 when France selected him to perform "Sognu" at the Eurovision Song Contest in Dusseldorf. Marking the nation's first Corsican-language entry since Patrick Fiori's "Mama Corsica" in 1993, the song quickly became the bookmakers' frontrunner before finishing fifteenth with 82 points.