Lys Assia

Lys Assia, born Rosa Mina Schärer on March 3, 1924 in Rupperswil, Switzerland, was an important Swiss pop singer. pop singerwho was best known for her participation in the Eurovision Song Contest became famous. She died in Zollikerberg on March 24, 2018 at the age of 94. Her name remains inextricably linked to the history of the Eurovision Song Contest, as she was the first winner of this competition in 1956.

Early years and education

Lys Assia grew up in Zurich as the youngest of twelve children. Her father, Frederic Schärer, ran an installation business. She was interested in art from an early age and took ballet lessons. She attended the conservatory and the School of Arts and Crafts before making her debut as a dancer in Zurich’s Corso-Palast at the age of 16. During the Second World War, she danced for the French troops as a member of the Riva Ballet and made her first appearances as a singer in Nice.

Musical breakthrough

Assia received her first recording contract with His Master’s Voice in 1942. Her first record was released in Switzerland. After the war, she toured abroad and successfully stood in for Josephine Baker in Paris, who was ill. In 1950, she conquered the German market with the song “O mein Papa” from the operetta “Das Feuerwerk” by Paul Burkhard. In 1956, she won the first Grand Prix Eurovision de la Chanson with the song “Refrain” and received a gold record.

Personal and further life

On January 11, 1957, Lys Assia married Johann Heinrich Kunz in Zurich. The marriage lasted nine months. During this time, she reached the peak of her career. In the 1960s, she was particularly successful in Germany and released numerous records, including “Sterne von Syrakus”, which entered the German charts in 1962. She later married the Danish consul general and multimillionaire Oscar Pedersen and lived with him in various countries.

Comeback and late years

After the death of her second husband, Assia returned to the music scene. She gave concerts and released new music, including the album “Lady in Blue” in 2005. Her return to the stage and the media world was accompanied by numerous appearances, including at the anniversary events of the Eurovision Song Contest and the national preliminary rounds.

Later career and final years

In 2008, Assia took part in the Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade and in 2009 in Moscow, where she was presented with the winner’s trophy. Swiss director Andres Brütsch made a film biography about her in 2011. In the same year, she presented music producer Ralph Siegel the entry “C’était ma vie” for the Swiss preliminary round of the Eurovision Song Contest 2012.