It is with great sadness that we report the death of one of the most beloved winners of the Eurovision Song Contest, Udo Jürgens. He won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1966 with his classic Merci, Chérie.
Udo Jürgens died of heart failure this afternoon after collapsing during a walk in Gottlieben, Switzerland. He was rushed to the hospital in Münsterlingen, but died there later today at 16:25 CET. He spent the last years of his life in Switzerland.
Jürgens was born on 30 September 1934 in Klagenfurt, Austria. Starting his career as a composer (composing for Shirley Bassey and others) and singer, his breakthrough came in 1966 when Merci, Chérie became the first Austrian winner in Eurovision. He had previously participated in 1964 with Warum, Nur Warum? coming sixth. He then tried again in 1965 with Sag Ihr, Ich Laß Sie Grüßen which came fourth. His 1969/1970 tour Udo 70 broke all records, performing 222 times in front of over half a million people. He has to be one of the, if not the single, most successful German language singers of all time, releasing over 50 albums and more than 1000 songs. His albums and singles sold over 105 million times.
Besides winning Eurovision, other successful songs are Griechischer Wein, 17 Jahr’ Blondes Haar, Aber Bitte Mit Sahne and Buenos Dias, Argentina. His last chart success became the single Der Mann Ist Das Problem in 2014, which was on his album Mitten Im Leben.
His death comes unexpected to all of us. The thoughts and prayers of the escXtra.com Team are with his family and friends in these difficult times.
