Mark Bernes

Mark Naumovich Bernes (Russian: Ма́рк Нау́мович Берне́с) (October 8 [O.S. September 25] 1911, Nezhin, Chernigov Governorate, Russian Empire - August 16, 1969, Moscow, Soviet Union) was a Soviet actor and singer of Jewish ancestry (his father's last name was Neumann), who performed some of the most poignant songs to come out of World War II, including Tyomnaya noch (Russian: Тёмная ночь, Dark Night; 1943) and Zhuravli (Russian: Журавли, Cranes; 1969). His voice had some similarities to Bing Crosby, but his style was closer to French chansonniers such as Yves Montand.