Jean Philippe Gargantiel (French pronunciation: [ʒɑ̃ filip], 27 November 1930 – 7 January 2022) was a French singer who represented France at the Eurovision Song Contest 1959.[1] He returned to the contest in 1962 representing Switzerland. He was the first artist to compete for two countries at Eurovision.

Jean Philippe
Jean Philippe at the Eurovision Song Contest 1962
Born
Jean Philippe Gargantiel

(1930-11-27)27 November 1930
France
Died7 January 2022(2022-01-07) (aged 91)
Quebec, Canada
NationalityFrench
OccupationSinger

Early life

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Jean Philippe started his professional life as a receptionist – his father was director at the Grand Hôtel in Paris.[2] He subsequently worked as an accountant as well as a bartender in Cardiff and in the Carlton hotel in Cannes.[2] While working as a vendor in a shirt shop in Paris, his wife registered him in a singing competition organised by a radio station, which he won in January 1957.[3]

Eurovision Song Contest

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The Eurovision Song Contest 1959 was held at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes, France, after the victory of André Claveau the previous year, in Hilversum, the Netherlands. Jean Philippe sang "Oui, oui, oui, oui" (Yes, yes, yes, yes) and came third, receiving 15 points.

Philippe returned to the contest in 1962 at the Villa Louvigny in Luxembourg and represented Switzerland with the appropriately titled "Le Retour" (The return). He was less successful second time around, garnering only two points and placing equal tenth.

Films

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Jean Philippe appeared in the 1960 film Jazz Boat in which he sang "Oui, oui, oui, oui".[4]

Personal life and death

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Philippe was married to Rosanne Jennings. Together they had three children; twins Gilles and Angelique and Natacha.[5][6] Philippe later lived in Quebec, Canada, where he operated a cafe in Montebello.[7][8] He died on 7 January 2022, at the age of 91.[6][9]

References

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  1. ^ "Eurovision Song Contest 1959". Eurovision.tv. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  2. ^ a b "A Cannes, sur les marches du Palais des Festivals". L'Espoir de Nice et du Sud-Est. 10 March 1959. p. 3. ISSN 1166-9012.
  3. ^ "Jean-Philippe, ex-petit chanteur à la Croix de Bois, était chemisier...". L'Espoir de Nice et du Sud-Est. 12 March 1959. p. 4. ISSN 1166-9012.
  4. ^ mariannefrances (1 November 1960). "Jazz Boat (1960)". IMDb. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  5. ^ "Jennings, Mrs. Ruby". Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: The Ottawa Citizen. 21 August 1982. p. 54. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Gargantiel, Jean-Phillipe". Les cimetières du Québec. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Drive in country uncovers decent fare at Pot au Feu Edit Share Print Download". Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: The Ottawa Citizen. 2 March 1995. p. 55. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  8. ^ "La fête du calvados". Le Droit. 4 November 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  9. ^ "My sweet little daddy, you left us on Friday night". Annie Boudreau on Facebook. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
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  Media related to Jean Philippe at Wikimedia Commons

Preceded by France in the Eurovision Song Contest
1959
Succeeded by
Preceded by Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest
1962
Succeeded by