Swiss singer Lys Assia, who won the inaugural Eurovision Song Contest in 1956, has died at the age of 94.
Assia, who celebrated her 94th birthday earlier this month, died on Saturday at Zurich's Zollikerberg Hospital, Eurovision Song Contest organisers said.
We’re very sad to hear that Lys Assia - the Grande Dame of #Eurovision - has passed away. Our very first winner in 1956 and a huge supporter of the Contest ever since. The whole Eurovision family sends our condolences to Lys’ loved ones. https://t.co/15OE4arVAo @LysAssia pic.twitter.com/mOjoLw4l9G
— Eurovision (@Eurovision) March 24, 2018
Offering condolences to the singer's family, ESC organisers said they would be paying tribute to her "life and her lasting commitment" to the Eurovision.
Following her win with Refrain in 1956, Assia also represented Switzerland at the Eurovision in 1957 and in 1958.
At the age of 87, she had decided to try to represent Switzerland again at the Eurovision, but missed out on singing the Swiss entry in 2012 and 2013.
