Mark Bernes

Mark Bernes

Mark Naumovich Bernes (Russian: Ма́рк Нау́мович Берне́с, Mark Naumovič Bernes) (October 8 1911, Nezhin, Ukraine - 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 the World War II, including Tyomnaya noch (Russian: Тёмная ночь, Dark Night; 1943) and Zhuravli (Russian: Журавли, Cranes; 1969). By his voice and singing style, he is similar to American performers Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, being the first Soviet crooner.