Udo JŸrgens /Beckmann/Brauer-Photos

Eurovision 2015 will be tinged with sadness. The terrible news came through yesterday that the first Austrian winner of the Eurovision Song Contest Udo Jürgens passed away.

Udo won the contest in 1966 with his classic Eurovision song ‘Merci, Chérie’. 1966 was his 3rd time to represent Austria at the contest in succession.

In 1964 he came 6th with the song “Warum nur warum?”, in 1965 he came 4th with the song “Sag ihr, ich lass sie grüßen” and then came his victory in 1966 with “Merci, Chérie”.

Mr Jürgens passed away at his home in Switzerland where he had become a resident. He was 80 years old yet was still performing and popular across Europe.

In a career spanning over 50 years he had sold over 100 million records and had written songs and recorded with artists like Shirley Bassey and  Matt Monro to The Supremes.

This year’s Eurovision Winner Conchita Wurst expressed her deep sense of loss at the passing of Udo Jürgens. The team here at Eurovision Ireland express our condolences to the family of Mr Jürgens and say ‘Merci’ for the wonderful Eurovision memories.

Author/Editor in Chief Garrett Mulhall

Source : Eurovision Ireland