Winning the 1966 Eurovision Song Contest in Luxembourg with the track Merci Chérie established Udo Jürgens as a central figure in European music. His professional career as a composer, pianist, and singer spanned over five decades, resulting in the sale of more than 104 million records while he successfully navigated the transition from traditional hit songs to modern pop arrangements.
Formative Years and Early Career
Born in 1934 in Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, he entered the music scene by forming the Udo Bolan Quartet in 1952. The group performed regularly at the Café Obelisk and broadcast material via Radio Alpenland. His early recognition as a songwriter included winning an Austrian public broadcasting contest in 1950 with the composition Je t'aime, followed by international attention for writing Reach for the Stars, performed by Shirley Bassey.
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Jürgens represented Austria at the Eurovision Song Contest three times. After placing sixth in 1964 and fourth in 1965, his victory in 1966 secured his status as a songwriter of international reach. His melodies were frequently adapted by other artists, including Matt Monro, who recorded several English-language versions of his compositions such as Walk Away and The Music Played. His influence extended to diverse genres, with his work covered by musicians ranging from Bing Crosby to the thrash metal band Sodom.
Musical Legacy and Chart Success
Beyond his individual recording career, Jürgens achieved success with the jukebox musical Ich war noch niemals in New York, which premiered in Hamburg in 2007. His work maintained a consistent presence in the charts; he holds a record for the longest presence in the charts, spanning from 1958 to 2015. Following his death in 2014, posthumous releases, including a 2022 album, continued to reach the number one position on German charts.
Final Years
Active until the end of his life, Jürgens completed a significant portion of his 25th concert tour in late 2014, performing across 27 cities. His final public appearance occurred during the Helene Fischer Show in Berlin. He died on 21 December 2014, in Münsterlingen, due to heart failure. He is buried at the Vienna Central Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1934, Klagenfurt am Wörthersee
- Died: 2014, Münsterlingen
- Citizenship: Austria and Switzerland
- Eurovision Win: 1966
- Records Sold: Over 104 million
- Notable Works: Merci Chérie, Ich war noch niemals in New York
- Religion: Atheism
- Burial: Vienna Central Cemetery
Questions readers ask
How many songs did Udo Jürgens write?
He is credited with composing close to 1,000 songs during his career.
What was his final concert tour?
His 25th concert tour began in October 2014 and included 27 cities before his death in December of that year.
