Lys Assia

Swiss-born vocalist Lys Assia claimed victory at the very first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956. Born on March 3, 1926, in Rupperswil, Aargau, Switzerland, she began her working life as a dancer until a 1940 stage appearance required her to substitute for an absent vocalist. The strong reception convinced her to leave dance behind and pursue singing full time. She rose to prominence across Central Europe and took on film roles, appearing in Palace Hotel in 1952 and Ein Mann Vergißt die Liebe in 1955. Among her hit singles from those years were “Moulin Rouge (Ein Lied aus Paris)” in 1953, the 1954 releases “O Mein Papa” and “Schwedenmädel,” and “Jolie Jacqueline” in 1955.

For the inaugural Eurovision, organizers invited Assia to represent both Germany and Switzerland. Her German submission, “Ein Kleiner Goldner Ring,” failed to advance through the national selection, whereas “Refrain” won the Swiss qualifiers—where she also sang “Das Alte Karrussel”—and ultimately triumphed at the contest final. She returned to the Eurovision stage the next two years, placing eighth in 1957 with “L'Enfant Que J'Etais” and runner-up in 1958 with “Giorgio.” Those entries joined additional European successes such as “Arrivederci Roma” from 1956, “Was Kann Schöner Sein” from 1957, “Come Prima” from 1958, and “Wenn die Glocken Hell Erklingen” from 1959. Further chart entries included her rendition of “Moon River,” “Für Immer” in 1961, “Schwarze Perlen” in 1962, and 1964’s “Fühl' Dich Bei Mir Wie Zuhause.”

Although she periodically stepped away from the spotlight, Assia maintained an active performance schedule and remained sought after for Eurovision-related occasions. In 2007, at age 83, she competed in the German-language television song contest Grand Prix der Volksmusic, delivering “Sag Mir Wo Wohnen die Engel” (Tell Me Where the Angels Live) alongside her 18-year-old duet partner Beatrice Egli. That year she also posed nude for the Swiss magazine Annabelle in a feature titled “Beauty with Age.” Lys Assia died on March 24, 2018, in Zollikerberg, Zürich, Switzerland, at the age of 94.