Guy Mardel (French pronunciation: [gi maʁdɛl], born Mardochée Elkoubi; 30 June 1944, in Oran, French Algeria) is a French singer, best known for his participation in the 1965 Eurovision Song Contest.

Guy Mardel
Guy Mardel at Eurovision
Guy Mardel at Eurovision
Background information
Birth nameMardochée Elkoubi
Born (1944-06-30) 30 June 1944 (age 79)
OriginOran, French Algeria
GenresPop, Chanson
Occupation(s)Singer

Mardel lived his first 15 years in Algeria before moving to France in 1959. He later enrolled in law school, while singing recreationally with a jazz band. He signed a contract with AZ Records in 1963 and released two singles before being chosen internally by channel ORTF in 1965 to represent France in that year's Eurovision Song Contest with the song "N'avoue jamais" ("Never admit"). At the contest, held in Naples on 20 March, "N'avoue jamais" finished in third place of the 18 entries.[1][2] The single record was reportedly sold 400 000 times.[3]

Mardel was unable to capitalise on his Eurovision success, despite releasing many singles until the 1980s. In the 1970s he moved into record production, setting up his own record label, MM, in 1977. Mardel now lives in Jerusalem.

References edit

  1. ^ ESC History 1965
  2. ^ "N'avoue jamais" at diggiloo.net
  3. ^ Fléouter, Claude (8 April 1967). "Eurovision à Vienne: la foire à la bluette". Le Monde. ProQuest Historical Newspapers. p. 17. ISSN 0395-2037. Retrieved 3 August 2023.

External links edit

Preceded by France in the Eurovision Song Contest
1965
Succeeded by