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 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
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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
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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.
He was best known as the host of the television series 'Spiel ohne Grenzen' (Play Without Borders) .125 episodes from 1965 to 1973. Camillo was also instrumental in the idea of the "Golden Lion of Radio Luxembourg." Amongst others, Petula Clark ("Downtown") and Roy Black ("All in White") received the coveted trophy. In 1968, Chief Speaker Camillo Felgen said goodbye to his listeners to work freely. Thirteen episodes of the television series Spiel ohne Grenzen were waiting for him, as well as contracts in the show business.His successor, Frank Elstner (then 26), handed Camillo a farewell gilded microphone to which he spoke his first words 20 years ago at Radio Luxembourg.
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)