Udo Jürgens

Born Jürgen Udo Bockelmann on Sep 30, 1934 in Kla

Austrian composer and singer Udo Jürgens has been a popular performer, bandleader, and recording artist since the 1950s, having represented his country three times in the Eurovision Song Contest. Though primarily known in Europe, many of Jürgens' songs are still considered standard tunes in Austria and Germany. Born Jürgen Udo Bockelmann in Klagenfurt, Austria, in 1934, Jürgens was encouraged to play music from a young age, and in 1948, while still in high school, he began music studies in his hometown at the Klagenfurt Conservatory. Inspired by such popular jazz and swing artists of the day as Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, and others, Jürgens began writing his own music and even won an Austrian songwriting competition with his song "Je T'Aime."After graduating high school in 1951, Jürgens — still going by his birth name — formed his own dance-oriented swing combo and began performing around Klagenfurt. Within a year, he also found work as a bandleader and personality for local radio programs. This exposure ultimately garnered him a record deal with Polydor and in 1954 he released the single, which promptly flopped with record buyers. Undeterred, Jürgens then changed his name to Udo Jürgens and began performing across Austria and Germany even touring with well-known German bandleader Max Greger's orchestra through Russia in the late '50s.Relocating to Munich in the late '50s, Jürgens continued writing and eventually scored a hit in Belgium with his song "Jenny." Similarly, his 1960 composition "Reach for the Stars" was popularized by British vocalist Shirley Bassey.This success found Jürgens' profile growing and in 1964 he was chosen to represent Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest, where his song "Warum, Nur Warum?" ("Why Only Why?") finished fifth. A year later, he came in fourth and finally in 1966 he took home the grand prize for Austria with "Merci, Chérie."Since that time, Jürgens has remained a popular songwriter, performer, and personality and is responsible for composing many songs considered to be standards of popular music in Austria and Germany.
 

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