Corey Hart

Corey Hart was only 21 and had never performed live when "Sunglasses At Night" hit the charts. The song was included on his debut album, 1984's First Offense, recorded in England with Eric Clapton playing guitar throughout the sessions. But Hart was no overnight success; he'd been writing since the age of 14, with Billy Joel and Paul Anka producing demo sessions.

Corey Hart's Boy In the Box album earned a Diamond Award for over one million sales — an exceptional feat. But "Lamp At Midnight" and "Angry Young Man" betray the toll that success had taken. Cancelling a tour due to exhaustion, Corey left the hectic music machine and reemerged as producer for Quebec superstar Julie Masse, now his wife.

Because Corey Hart produces the songs he writes for others, we are including his hit collaborations with Céline Dion. A fellow Montrealer, Céline possesses a powerful vocal range that reveals the nuances within the Hart sound. Corey's work with R&B chanteuse Cherie, meanwhile, shows the emotional depth of his material. And lastly, who can resist the reggae version of "Sunglasses At Night" by Inner Circle?

In the mid-'80s, Corey Hart single-handedly defined the concept of cool with not only an ubiquitous song, but also a catchphrase forever embedded in our pop culture vocabulary: "Sunglasses At Night." His moody good looks and thoughtful demeanor indicated that he was no ordinary pop idol, while his music radiated the deep conviction to craft that is still integral to Corey's work today in his current role as an in-demand hit songwriter and producer for Céline Dion and others.