Géo Voumard
Encyclopedia
Géo Voumard was a Swiss jazz pianist and composer
. He was a co-founder of the Montreux Jazz Festival
and composer of the song "Refrain
" which won the first Eurovision Song Contest
.
. He originally studied architecture
in college before starting his musical career.
, in 1952. He originally joined Radio Lausanne as an accompanist, pianist
, composer
and musical producer. In 1966, Voumard became the station's director of pop music
. He later served as Radio Lausanne's director of light entertainment
from 1969 until 1983.
Voumard founded the Montreux Jazz Festival
with René Langel and Claude Nobs
in 1967. He co-wrote and won the very first Eurovision Song Contest
song, Refrain
in 1956. Refrain was co-written by Émile Gardaz
.
Voumard moved to the Provence
region of France
following his departure from radio broadcasting in the 1980s. He worked as an architect
in France before returning to his native Switzerland
for the remainder of his life.
Géo Voumard died on 3 September 2008, at the age of 87. News of his death was first announced by , A Swiss news agency
.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. He was a co-founder of the Montreux Jazz Festival
Montreux Jazz Festival
The Montreux Jazz Festival is the best-known music festival in Switzerland and one of the most prestigious in Europe; it is held annually in early July in Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva...
and composer of the song "Refrain
Refrain (song)
"Refrain" was the winning song of the Eurovision Song Contest 1956, co-written by Émile Gardaz and Géo Voumard, performed by Lys Assia representing Switzerland. It was the first-ever winner of the Contest, but not the first-ever performance by Switzerland...
" which won the first Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
.
Biography
Voumard was born on 2 December 1920 in Biel/BienneBiel/Bienne
Biel/Bienne is a city in the district of the Biel/Bienne administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.It is located on the language boundary and is throughout bilingual. Biel is the German name for the town, Bienne its French counterpart. The town is often referred to in both...
. He originally studied architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
in college before starting his musical career.
Music career
Voumard joined the Hazy Osterwald Orchestra in 1944. Four years later, in 1948, he created his own group. Voumard began broadcasting out of Radio Lausanne, which is now known as Radio Suisse RomandeRadio Suisse Romande
Radio suisse romande is an enterprise unit within public-broadcasting corporation SRG SSR. It is responsible for the production and transmission of French-language radio programmes in Switzerland...
, in 1952. He originally joined Radio Lausanne as an accompanist, pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and musical producer. In 1966, Voumard became the station's director of pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
. He later served as Radio Lausanne's director of light entertainment
Light entertainment
Light entertainment is a term used to describe a broad range of usually televisual performances. These include comedies, variety shows, quiz/game shows, sketch shows and people/surprise shows.-Light entertainment in Britain:...
from 1969 until 1983.
Voumard founded the Montreux Jazz Festival
Montreux Jazz Festival
The Montreux Jazz Festival is the best-known music festival in Switzerland and one of the most prestigious in Europe; it is held annually in early July in Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva...
with René Langel and Claude Nobs
Claude Nobs
Claude Nobs is the founder and general manager of the famous Montreux Jazz Festival.-Biography:...
in 1967. He co-wrote and won the very first Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
song, Refrain
Refrain (song)
"Refrain" was the winning song of the Eurovision Song Contest 1956, co-written by Émile Gardaz and Géo Voumard, performed by Lys Assia representing Switzerland. It was the first-ever winner of the Contest, but not the first-ever performance by Switzerland...
in 1956. Refrain was co-written by Émile Gardaz
Émile Gardaz
Émile Gardaz was a Swiss Romand radio moderator and author from Villars-le-Terroir, canton of Vaud, Switzerland, working for Radio suisse romande since 1955...
.
Voumard moved to the Provence
Provence
Provence ; Provençal: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a region of south eastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy. It is part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
region of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
following his departure from radio broadcasting in the 1980s. He worked as an architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
in France before returning to his native Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
for the remainder of his life.
Géo Voumard died on 3 September 2008, at the age of 87. News of his death was first announced by , A Swiss news agency
News agency
A news agency is an organization of journalists established to supply news reports to news organizations: newspapers, magazines, and radio and television broadcasters. Such an agency may also be referred to as a wire service, newswire or news service.-History:The oldest news agency is Agence...
.
Discography
- Flavio Ambrosetti Sextet, 1943
- Geo Voumard Trio With Mers Eddy And His Strings – Piano, Strings And Sound
- Géo Voumard – 25 Ans De Jazz, 1953–1977
- Géo Voumard Trio – Geo Voumard Trio
- Hazy Osterwald – Big Bands Of Europe Vol. Ii, 1946–1948
- Various – The Golden Swing Years, 1942–1947