Mojmir Sepe | |
|---|---|
 Sepe (left) with Dušan Hren in 2005 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Mojzes |
| Born | (1930-07-11)11 July 1930 |
| Died | 24 December 2020(2020-12-24) (aged 90) |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 1950–2020 |
Spouse | |
Mojmir "Mojzes"Sepe (11 July 1930 – 24 December 2020) was a Sloveniancomposer,conductor,arranger andtrumpeter.[1]
The son of opera singer Franc Schiffrer, Sepe graduated fromCelje First Grammar School (gymnasium) inCelje in 1949. He later studied piano and trumpet atLjubljana Academy of Music.
In 1950, he started his professional music career as a promisingtrumpet player atRadio Ljubljana Dance Orchestra. He also established thejazz Mojmir Sepe Band (Ansambel Mojmirja Sepeta), which published one of the first jazzvinyl records in socialist Yugoslavia. His trumpet career ended after an altercation atOpatija Festival '65 when four guys knocked out a couple of his front teeth as he defended her from having her purse stolen.[2] He committed to composing and conducting, mostly influenced by jazz andswing music.[3]
He collaborated with several Slovenian poets who wrote lyrics for his arrangements. Among them wereFrane Milčinski Ježek,Gregor Strniša,Branko Šomen,Miroslav Košuta, andIvan Minatti.[4]
Eres tú, the Spanish entry in the1973 Eurovision Song Contest, has been accused of being a plagiarism of the Slovenian song "Brez besed" performed byBerta Ambrož and representingYugoslavia at the1966 Eurovision Song Contest. Brez Besed was written by Sepe himself and lyricist Elza Budau, both Slovenians. However, Sepe and Budau never officially complained or filed a lawsuit against Eres Tú composerJuan Carlos Calderón, and therefore nothing further happened.[7][8][9][10]
Sepe represented Yugoslavia two times as composer.[6]
| Year | Song | Artist | Lyricist | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Brez besed" | Berta Ambrož | Elza Budau | 7th | |
| "Pridi, dala ti bom cvet" | Eva Sršen | Dušan Velkaverh | 11th |
Sepe conducted both his compositions in the Eurovision Song Contest. Additionally, he was the conductor for the Slovenian entries in 1997 and 1998.[11] He was also the Slovenian jury member in the 1993 Eurovision pre-selection.
Since 1956, Sepe was married toMajda Sepe, a famous Slovenian singer, for whom he also wrote music.[12] Film directorPolona Sepe [sl] was born to them in 1957.
Sepe died on 24 December 2020, at the age of 90.[13]
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