Grethe Ingmann

Grethe Ingmann, born on June seventeenth, nineteen thirty-eight, was a celebrated Danish singer whose career began at the tender age of seventeen. She initially performed with the Malihini Hawaiians pop quartet before joining forces with Danish guitarist Jørn Grauengaard and his trio, showcasing her remarkable vocal talent.

In nineteen fifty-five, Grethe met Jørgen Ingmann, a guitarist who would become her husband the following year. Together, they formed the duo Grethe og Jørgen Ingmann, captivating audiences with their harmonious performances. Their most notable achievement came in nineteen sixty-three when they represented Denmark at the Eurovision Song Contest, winning with the enchanting jazz waltz 'Dansevise,' composed by Otto Francker with lyrics by Sejr Volmer-Sørensen. This victory marked a historic moment as it was the first time a duo won the contest and the first win for a Scandinavian entry.

Grethe's musical journey continued as she entered the German Schlager Contest in nineteen sixty-five with the song 'Sommerwind.' Although she did not progress beyond the preliminaries, the English version of the song, penned by Johnny Mercer and later performed by Frank Sinatra in nineteen sixty-six, became an international sensation.

Despite their professional success, Grethe and Jørgen's personal lives took a turn, leading to their divorce in nineteen seventy-five. Grethe pursued a solo career, participating in several Danish pre-selections for the Eurovision Song Contest, though she faced challenges in achieving the same level of success. Notably, in nineteen seventy-nine, she entered the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix with Bjarne Liller and the song 'Alt er skønt,' which tied for first place but ultimately placed second after a re-vote.

In a twist of fate, the couple remarried in the eighties. Tragically, Grethe Ingmann passed away from liver cancer on August eighteenth, nineteen ninety, at the age of fifty-two, becoming the first Eurovision winner to die.