September 16, 1916

French singer Yvette Giraud specialized in the chanson form (as opposed to the art song) but was equally at home with lighthearted or dramatic fare. She was best known around 1950 for popularizing the song "Avril au Portugal" (aka "Whispering Serenade") around the world. She recorded primarily for EMI, which, lacking a U.S. outlet of its own at the time, released her work in America on RCA Victor. ~ Bruce Eder