Jennifer Rush

While virtually unknown in the U.S., pop singer Jennifer Rush achieved superstar status as an expatriate in Europe, selling millions of records and releasing a string of hit singles notable for their booming, dance-rock arrangements and Rush's powerful voice. Born Heidi Stern in New York City, Rush's father was an opera singer and her mother was a pianist. At the age of nine, she moved to Germany with her family, returning in her teens to the States. In 1982, she returned to Germany with her father to pursue a singing career, signing a deal with CBS/Columbia. Changing her name to Jennifer Rush, she released a series of songs that made her a star in Europe, including "Into My Dreams," "Come Give Me Your Hand," "25 Lovers," and "Ring of Ice." In 1985, Rush scored a massive European hit with "The Power of Love," which became one of the longest-running chart-toppers in U.K. history. The song, which she also co-wrote, was packaged with several of her other European hits for her U.S. debut Jennifer Rush. Released as a single, "The Power of Love" failed to duplicate its success upon its stateside release, only reaching number 57. Instead, versions of the song by <a href="spotify:artist:4463nfFMmK1cwAWBQDwT5e">Laura Branigan</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:4S9EykWXhStSc15wEx8QFK">Celine Dion</a> hit the American Top 40 (the latter hitting number one for a month in 1994). It wasn't until her third U.S. release, Heart Over Mind, that Rush reached the Top 40 as an artist with her duet with <a href="spotify:artist:3PhoLpVuITZKcymswpck5b">Elton John</a>, "Flames of Paradise," reaching number 37 in 1987. She continued to retain a large European following throughout the rest of the '80s and '90s, collaborating with writers such as <a href="spotify:artist:7KgW65389e5w4xWzaVOuCg">Desmond Child</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:3A2jfQOLgo5rV4GYFHbEA2">Diane Warren</a> and performing with high-profile acts like <a href="spotify:artist:6YHEMoNPbcheiWS2haGzkn">Michael Bolton</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:4pU3BpenOZFEBzORx2YBJW">Placido Domingo</a>. Despite selling millions of albums abroad, most of her albums have not been released in the U.S. ~ Tom Demalon, Rovi