Jean Philippe Gargantiel (French pronunciation:[ʒɑ̃filip], 27 November 1930 – 7 January 2022) was a French singer who representedFrance at theEurovision Song Contest 1959.[1] He returned to the contest in1962 representing Switzerland. He was the first artist to compete for two countries atEurovision.
Jean Philippe started his professional life as a receptionist – his father was director at theGrand Hôtel in Paris.[2] He subsequently worked as an accountant as well as a bartender inCardiff and in theCarlton hotel inCannes.[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]
Philippe returned to the contest in1962 at theVilla Louvigny inLuxembourg and representedSwitzerland with the appropriately titled "Le Retour" (The return). He was less successful second time around, garnering only two points and placing equal tenth.
Philippe was married to Rosanne Jennings. Together they had three children; twins Gilles and Angelique and Natacha.[5][6] Philippe later lived inQuebec, Canada, where he operated a cafe inMontebello.[7][8] He died on 7 January 2022, at the age of 91.[6][9]
Media related toJean Philippe at Wikimedia Commons
