Camillo Jean Nicolas Felgen (17 November 1920 in Tétange
– 16 July 2005 in Esch-sur-Alzette) was a Luxembourgish singer, lyricist, disc
jockey, and television presenter.
Camillo Felgen was born on 17 November 1920 in Tetingen
in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. He attended elementary school, then high
school and teacher training institute. From 1941 to 1945 he was elementary
school teacher. Afterwards,he was an interpreter for the occupation forces, a
reporter for a French-language newspaper in Luxembourg, and studied acting,
singing and opera in Brussels and Liège. Was eventually hired by Radio
Luxembourg as a choral singer and received a contract as a French newsreader. When
he made his first recordings in Paris in 1951, he created (with the orchestra
Marcel Coestier) the signature tune of his home station: "Bonjour mes
amis".
In 1951, he had his first international hit record,
"Bonjour les amies" ("Hello Friends"). The song went on to
become the theme song for this national broadcaster. In 1953, he recorded his
first German-language record, "Onkel Toms altes Boot" ("Uncle
Tom's Old Boat"), in Berlin. He appeared in small roles in the German
films “When Conny and Peter Do It Together” (1958) and “Five Sinners” (1960).
In 1958, Camillo Felgen was appointed by Radio Luxembourg
as Program Director of the new program in German. On April 6, 1958, Camillo's
first hit parade, the first ever German-language, was heard. Immediately
afterwards he invented the "Merry Waves of Radio Luxembourg". Camillo
became known as the father of the
hit parade presenting in one of his many programs “The Big Eight” top hits from all over the world. It was the success barometer for the record industry. Camillo's dark sexy voice enchanted women's souls at dusk and gave him corporeal letters (about 350 a week).
hit parade presenting in one of his many programs “The Big Eight” top hits from all over the world. It was the success barometer for the record industry. Camillo's dark sexy voice enchanted women's souls at dusk and gave him corporeal letters (about 350 a week).
He represented his home country in the Eurovision Song
Contest 1960 with "So laang we's du do bast", becoming the first
Luxembourger and the first male contestant to represent Luxembourg and the
first participant to sing in Luxembourgish. He finished last with only one point.
Two years later he entered the contest again, this time doing much better by
finishing in 3rd place with the song "Petit bonhomme". He did at
times do the commentary in German too.
One of the greatest hits of Felgen was "Ich hab
Ehrfurcht vor schneeweißen Haaren" ("I Respect Your Grey Hair"),
a cover of singer-guitarist and entrepreneur Bobbejaan Schoepen. Another
was "Sag warum", in 1959, based on a melody by Phil Spector. In 1962 he recorded the original instrumental Tornados world hit Telstar, with vocals: Sometime a new day awakes.
was "Sag warum", in 1959, based on a melody by Phil Spector. In 1962 he recorded the original instrumental Tornados world hit Telstar, with vocals: Sometime a new day awakes.
Camillo Felgen also wrote German lyrics for cover
versions of international songs, using the pseudonyms of Lee Montague (writing
for Petula Clark, The Searchers, The Honeycombs, among others) and Jean Nicolas
(writing for Connie Francis, Caterina Valente, Greetje Kauffeld and Lill-Babs,
among others).
A legendary meeting took place in Paris in 1964. There,
Felgen met the Beatles, who recorded their two German titles She Loves You and I
Want To Hold Your Hand. The lyrics came from a'Jean Nicolas' – which was a
pseudonym of Felgens. He has also worked as a copywriter for colleagues such as
Peter Alexander (I count my worries every day), Connie Francis (beautiful
stranger), the Everly Brothers (When you kiss me), Ralf Paulsen (Bonanza) and
many others.
Although he had long since retired from the front row, he guested now
and then on radio and television specials. In 1986 he married his third wife
Marianna, with whom he also ran a boutique for ball gowns in Luxembourg. He
died in Esch-sur-Alzette on 16 July 2005, at the age of 84. One of the
most popular voices in the fields of radio, television and record is silent
forever.
At the anniversary celebration of 50 years of RTL RADIO Luxembourg on 15
July 2007, Camillo was awarded the "Honorary Lion". His widow accepted
the award. Camillo had the spontaneous idea for the Lion Award, but never got
one himself. RTL RADIO program director Holger Richter: "We would not be
here without him today!"
(Compiled and edited from Wikipedia &
radiojournal.de)
1 comment:
For “Camillo Fellgen - Ich hab' Ehrfurcht vor schneeweissen Haaren” go here:
https://www.upload.ee/files/9199709/Camillo_Felgen.rar.html
1: Ich hab' Ehrfurcht vor schneeweissen Haaren
2: Wenn ein Stern vom Himmel fällt
3: Schaukelstuhl, bleib niemals stehen
4: Wann
5: Unser Glück, Mon Amour
6: Auch Du wirst einmal vergessen
7: Zwei in einem weissen Boot (& ELISABETH)
8: Armer Piccolino
9: Mitternachtslied
10: Das kleine Märchen
11: Wanderer ohne Sterne
12: Sag, warum?
13: Golden Mary
14: Schwarzer Pierrot
15: Er ist ein Freund von mir
16: Du kleiner Mann
17: Bye Bye
18: Irgenwann erwacht ein neuer Tag
19: Bracero
20: Perlen, Silber Und Gold
21: Nur ein Schatten
22: An Daddy persönlich
23: Der Junge aus der Via Gluck
24: Ferne und Einsamkeit
25: Heut' abend kommt die Liebe
26: Edelweiss
27: Wie damals
28: Mon Amour, Tu M'Attnedras
This CD offers a small selection of the about 400 tracks Camillo Felgen recorded.
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