The sad news is coming through that Eurovision’s first Winner Lys Assia has died today at the age of 94 according to Swiss Broadcaster SRF.

Assia shot to international fame when she won the first ever Eurovision Song Contest in 1956 with the now legendary song ‘Refrain’. She represented Switzerland and gave the country a home win as the contest was held in Lugano that year.

She returned to the contest again in 1957 and 1958 where she narrowly missed out on a second win at the contest with the song ‘Giorgio’.

In 2012 Lys made another bid to go to Eurovision with the song ‘C’etait Ma Vie’. It made the selection final in Switzerland but alas it was not meant to be and came 8th.

Just when you think she wouldn’t try again, Lys Asia reinvented herself and came back with serious Euro Pop and even a little rapping when she teamed up with New Jack for the vastly underrated ‘All In Your Head’ in 2013. Shame on SRF for not putting this in their national final.

Most years without fail Lys would make the pilgrimage to the host city of Eurovision and meet the fans. As you can see the Eurovision Ireland team met Lys Assia many times but this is one of our favourite moments with her back in Baku.

Today marks a sad day for the Eurovision Community,

R.I.P. Lys Assia and our condolences to her family.

Source – SRF