Udo Jürgens
Austrian composer and singer who modernized German-language pop music.
Udo Jürgens was born Jürgen Udo Bockelmann on 30 September 1934 and died on 21 December 2014 at age 80. An Austrian composer and singer of popular music, he worked in the industry for more than five decades. In 1966, he won the Eurovision Song Contest for Austria, wrote nearly 1,000 songs, and moved over 104 million records. In 2007, he also became a Swiss citizen. He is known for pushing German-language pop beyond the traditional post-war schlager style by mixing in modern pop and French chanson influences. His music attracted listeners of all ages, and he kept drawing large crowds in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland until his death.
In 1952, performing as Udo Bolan, he started the Udo Bolan Quartet in Klagenfurt, Austria. The group—with Johnny Richards on drums, Klaus Behmel on guitar, and Bruno Geiger on bass—played regularly at dance and jazz spots and appeared on Radio Alpenland and British Forces Radio. He wrote the 1961 worldwide hit "Reach for the Stars" for Shirley Bassey. In 1964, Jürgens entered the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time, representing Austria with "Warum nur, warum?" and finishing sixth. The UK contestant Matt Monro liked the tune and covered it as "Walk Away" (with English lyrics by his manager Don Black), which reached number four in the UK and number 23 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
The next year, his song "Sag ihr, ich lass sie grüßen" came fourth. On his third attempt, in 1966 in Luxembourg, he won with "Merci, Chérie". That track became an English-language hit for Vince Hill and another cover by Monro, and it remains one of Jürgens' best-known works. His own version sold over a million copies, earning him a gold disc from Deutsche Vogue in 1966. Over the following years, he wrote songs like "Griechischer Wein", "Aber bitte mit Sahne", "Mit 66 Jahren", and one of his biggest successes, "Buenos Días, Argentina", which he performed with the Germany national football team in 1978 in Argentina. In 1977, he brought The Supremes (Mary Wilson, Scherrie Payne, and Susaye Greene) onto his televised gala concert. They performed two of their own hits and a duet with Jürgens of "Walk Away".
Quick Facts
- Birth Name
- Jürgen Udo Bockelmann
- Birth Date
- 1934-09-30
- Birth Place
- Klagenfurt, Austria
- Death Date
- 2014-12-21
- Death Place
- Münsterlingen, Switzerland
- Instrument
- Vocals, piano
- Genre
- Pop, schlager, chanson, soft rock
- Occupation
- Singer, musician, composer
- Years Active
- 1950–2014
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
In 1952, as Udo Bolan, he formed the Udo Bolan Quartet in Klagenfurt, playing at dance and jazz venues and broadcasting on Radio Alpenland and British Forces Radio. He wrote the 1961 worldwide hit 'Reach for the Stars' for Shirley Bassey. Jürgens represented Austria at Eurovision three times: in 1964 with 'Warum nur, warum?' (sixth place), in 1965 with 'Sag ihr, ich lass sie grüßen' (fourth place), and in 1966 with 'Merci, Chérie', which won the contest. His version of 'Merci, Chérie' sold over one million copies and earned a gold disc from Deutsche Vogue in 1966.
Jürgens wrote many enduring songs, including 'Griechischer Wein', 'Aber bitte mit Sahne'
Reader's Guide
Udo Jürgens' significance lies in his transformation of German-language pop music, moving it beyond the traditional schlager style by incorporating modern pop and French chanson elements. His compositions attracted fans of all ages, and he continued to fill venues in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland until his death. His Eurovision victory in 1966 with 'Merci, Chérie' brought international attention, and the song was covered by numerous artists in multiple languages. Jürgens' songs were also widely covered by English-language artists, most notably Matt Monro, who recorded several of his compositions with English lyrics by Don Black, including 'Walk Away' (from 'Warum nur, warum?') and 'Without You' (from 'Du sollst die Welt für mich sein'). Bing Crosby covered 'Griechischer Wein' as 'Come Share the Wine', and Marty Robbins recorded 'Buenos Dias Argentina'. Since 2015, Jürgens holds the worldwide record for the longest presence in the charts—over 57 years from his first entry in 1958 until 2015. A posthumous album released by his children in December 2022 reached number one on the German charts, extending his chart presence to more than eight decades. His legacy is further cemented by the jukebox musical 'Ich war noch niemals in New York' and the Udo Jürgens Foundation, which supports children without parental care and young musical talents.
Did You Know?
- Udo Jürgens won the Eurovision Song Contest 1966 for Austria with 'Merci, Chérie'.
- He sold over 104 million records and composed close to 1,000 songs.
- His gravestone at Vienna Central Cemetery features a grand piano draped in a white mourning cloth, designed by his brother Manfred Bockelmann.
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