News - Paul Mauriat died at the age of 81 | Eurovision Song Contest News - 2008 Belgrade, Serbia 

The Famous French musician died yesterday at the age of 81. The French conductor and composer specialized in light music and was mostly know in the Eurovision world as the co-composer of the song Cathérine performed by Romuald for Luxembourg at the 1969 Eurovision Song Contest. He also made his own instrumental version of the song L'amour est bleu, sang by Vicky leandros at the 1967 Eurovision Song Contest for Luxembourg, which gave him worldfame.

Paul Mauriat was born on March 25th 1925 in Marseille, France, but grew up in Paris where he started his own band during the 2nd World War. In the 50’s he worked with famous French musicians such as Charles Aznavour and Maurice Chevalier. His fame in the United States started in 1961 when his melody was adopted into the tune I will follow him performed by 15 years old Little Peggy Lee. It stayed on the top of the Billboard charts for three weeks. In 1992 the same song performed by Whoopi Goldberg became the main theme of the hit comedy film Sister act.

At the 1967 Eurovision Song Contest L’amour est bleu performed by Vicky Leandros won 4th place for Luxembourg but became one of the most memorable Eurovision songs. The instrumental version of that song, released in the United States as Love is blue, topped the Billboard charts for five consecutive weeks, a record that no instrumental song has equaled since.

Le grand orchestre de Paul Mauriat was established in 1965. They released hundreds of recordings and compilations. In Osaka, Japan, Paul Mauriat gave his final performance in 1992,  but his orchestra is still performing all around the World.

The Official biography of Paul Mauriat  Un vie en bleu witten by Serghe Elhaik was published in 2002.