French pop singer Patxi was one of the many young artists first launched to fame via the television amateur showcase Star Academy. Born Patxi Garat on August 20, 1981, in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, the Basque native rose to national renown during early 2004 as a competitor on Star Academy's third season, ascending to the semifinal round before viewers voted him off the show. He nevertheless remained a fan favorite, and was featured in the Star Academy package tour that followed the series' season finale. Patxi issued his debut solo single, "Á l'Anglaise," soon after, but the record attracted little attention and he did not resurface until the summer of 2006, issuing his debut LP, S'Embrasser, on the Atmosphériques label. ~ Jason Ankeny