Born in Sweden to parents of both Russian and French descent, the romantic singer/songwriter Don Bennechi fashioned an adult contemporary style of pop/rock from the mid-‘90s onwards, which nodded to Leonard Cohen as well as the work of the revered French vocalist, Patricia Kaas. Following the 1995 debut single “Message of Love” he found fame in both Western Europe and Latin America and, although it was in the Far East that he enjoyed greater recognition, a combination of sickness and reported personal issues prevented Bennechi from sustaining this level of success. His vocal style often recalled the distinguished, low-register delivery of Cohen’s late-‘80s material. However, his later, more upbeat releases, such as 2008’s Bodytalk and 2009’s A Life for Me, showcased a smooth and versatile approach that revealed an artist as comfortable performing straight-ahead pop as presenting material with a classical crossover slant. ~ James Wilkinson