Sacha Distel dies
Legendary French crooner Sacha Distel has died after a long illness. He was 71.
The Scoubidou hitmaker passed away at his former ski champion wife Francine Breaud's parents' home in Rayol-Canadel in the southern France region of Var yesterday.
Actor and singer Distel was born in Paris in January 1933 to a musical family. His uncle was band leader Ray Ventura.
Distel leapt to fame with hit single Scoubidou in 1958 and embarked on a love affair with fellow Gallic star Brifitte Bardot.
He went on to enjoy huge international success with music and acting during the '60s and '70s, which peaked with his cover of Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head.
During the '80s Distel took time out of his career to fight cancer and psychologically recover from a serious car crash.
Distel's last performance was playing smooth-talking lawyer Billy Flynn in the London theatre production of Chicago from 2000 until 2001.
Distel will be buried in a private funeral ceremony on Saturday
