Help us find and improve next week's Connection Finder profiles: Eurovision

Question

The grand finals for Eurovision are coming up on May 11, so we're looking at people who have participated in the international song contest in the Connection Finder next week.

Here are some of the acts we're considering:

• Céline Dion, won in 1988 representing Switzerland with the song, "Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi"
• Lulu, won in 1969 with "Boom Bang-a-Bang," representing the UK
• Björn Ulvaeus, won in 1974 as a member of ABBA, representing Sweden with the song, "Waterloo"

Who else should we feature? We have room for 12 individuals. We can't feature everyone who is nominated, but if we don't feature a profile you work on, we may use it sometime in the future. And, of course, all contributions help improve our shared tree.

Our choice of features will depend partly on the notable person's CC7, i.e. their connection count within seven degrees. The more connections they have, the more likely it is for all WikiTree members to find a close and interesting connection to them. So, if you nominate someone, please help grow their CC7.

Suggestions are more likely to be considered if you provide a link to the person on WikiTree, some information about who they were or why you're nominating them, and if their profile is in good condition with a connection, image, and well-written and well-sourced biography.

We'll make a final decision on which ones to feature early next week.

Please reply here with what you're working on so that we don't duplicate our efforts. Thank you!

Take note that this is not the place to discuss why you think we shouldn't feature someone if those reasons are due to politics, actions, or opinions of those being suggested. Mentioning things like their not being connected, their biography still needing work, erroneous information, etc. are all suitable for discussion here and an opportunity to correct those situations.

Help us choose themes for 2024 Connection Finder themes here. 

Comments

Lulu was born in Scotland but was representing The United Kingdom in Eurovision

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Thanks, Patrick. It's been updated.

Answer 1

Jean-Claude Pascal - 1961 winner for Luxembourg. At age 17, he fought for the French military forces that liberated France in WWII.

Julio Iglesias - Fourth place finisher for Spain in 1970. He is the most commercially successful Spanish singer in the world. 

Comments

Both get my vote!

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Thanks, Russell.

Answer 2

• France Gall (1947-2018) France; sang 1965 Luxembourg Eurovision entry Poupée de cire, poupée de son (winner); CC7 154, has biography and image
• Françoise Dorin (1928-2018) France; wrote French 1965 entry N'avoue jamais (placed third); CC7 265, has biography, needs image also now has image.

Comments

Good finds!

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I'll add the photo for Dorin tomorrow. Thanks!

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Great, thanks Isabelle!

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Thanks, Jim.

Answer 3

Oh, this is an interesting one, I'll keep an eye on some of these suggestions.  I've been working on UK number 1s so immediately Cliff Richard (living), Sandie Shaw (unlisted), and ABBA come to mind.  If (living) Johnny Logan has a Wikitree profile, I've not been able to find it. 

Fun fact: Bill Martin (no profile) and Phil Coulter (living) wrote both Shaw's 1967 winning entry "Puppet on a String" and Cliff's 1968 2nd place "Congratulations".  Maybe it's time we got Mr Martin connected up?

Let me dig a bit, there must be more European singers and songwriters from the 60s and 70s who have profiles.

Someone you might consider: irrepressible longstanding UK Eurovision host Terry Wogan (from Ireland).

Comments

Shay Healy, writer of Johnny Logan's winning song 'What's Another Year'. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Healy-3384

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Patricia Bredin, 7th placed in 1957, died last year.  She was married, for a time, to another singer, Ivor Emmanuel who was in the film "Zulu" with Michael Caine.  592 CC7, please feel free to pretty up the profile I made her.

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We'll have to try and connect Shay Healy too then!

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Oh cool!  Esther Ofarim (actually from Israel) represented Switzerland in 1963 placing 2nd.  She's still living and still singing, if you remember her at all it's most likely for this song!

Maybe the Notables guys could rustle up a profile for her?

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Nana Mouskouri (living) doesn't seem to have a profile, the Greek project might want to get onto that!  She placed 8th for Luxembourg in 1963 but had lots of international hits in the 1970s and 80s if I recall, and apparently is now a politician in Greece.

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Udo Jurgens - not connected but at least I've found one with a profile!

He won representing Austria in 1966 having finished 6th in 1964 and 4th in 1965.

Any Germany/Austria specialists who can help get him connected?  His Wikipedia page mentions several prominent relatives.

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I'm afraid I'm not contributing very much in the way of viable candidates, but this is a very educational research project!

For instance, I did not know that the Shadows (Cliff Richard's backing group) had a Eurovision entry without him, or that they actually sang - all their work I've heard without Cliff has been instrumental.  They came 2nd in 1975.

I also didn't know that Liz Mitchell, before she was in Boney M was in the Les Humphries Singers who represented Germany in 1976, placing 15th!

I knew about Brotherhood of Man (1976 winners) and I probably should have known about The New Seekers (2nd in 1972) - I've indexed both bands in bandspace but haven't checked each member for their profile status yet.

Spanish duo Baccara, best known for "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" finished 7th in the 1978 competition with "Parlez vous Francais", obviously representing who else, but Luxembourg.

Hah!  I keep getting videos on Youtube for Dschinghis Khan by Dschinghis Khan, I didn't realise it was an actual Eurovision entry!  (Germany, 4th, 1979)

Prima Donna, the band performing UK's 1980 entry aren't that well known but two of their members were Kate Robbins (of Spitting Image, Eurotrash) and Sally Ann Triplett who was also on TV a lot.  I doubt they have profiles, both are living.  

I'm sure I don't need to mention Buck's Fizz.  I will mention Nicole Seibert (living), who won in 1982 with Ein Bisschen Freiden (which we translated as A Little Love), a particularly lovely song.

I don't really recognise even the British entries from about 1983-1992, though a few finished top 5.  Samantha Janus (better known as an actress) had a go one year, and Sonia's 1993 hit Better The Devil You Know which finished runner up has probably been overshadowed by a Kylie song with the same name.  Aussie Gina G with Ooh Aah Just A Little Bit in 1996 surprisingly came 8th, that one still gets play on the music channels!  Then in 1997 Katrina and the Waves won it.

Anyway, there have been some great suggestions elsewhere, I don't think you'll have a problem finding a full roster.  I'll see if I can connect some people up anyway.

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Good news!  Multi-Eurovision songwriter Bill Martin now has a connected profile!

Bad news!  His CC7 is dire!  He does have a lot of siblings and cousins we could add but it will still look pretty thin.

One other thing I noticed, there is a Eurovision Song Contest category, can we make sure that all the names suggested here are categorized in it?  As I write this there are only 7 names in it.  I know a lot of the people are living and can't be edited, but if you leave a note in the comments, the project PMs are usually pretty good at adding categories.

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Thanks, Stephen.

Answer 4

• Willy van Hemert wrote two winning entries for the Netherlands in 1957 and 1959, "Net als toen" and "Een beetje"; connected, CC7 30, has photo
• Olivia Newton-John came in 4th for the UK in 1974 with "Long Live Love" (I think she's been featured several times already though)
• Lill-Babs represented Sweden in 1961 with "April, April"; connected, CC7 174, has photo
• Annie M.G. Schmidt wrote the lyrics for the Netherlands 1956 entry "De vogels van Holland"; connected, CC7 31, has photo

If needed, two people who were hosts for Eurovision that have larger CC7's are Katie Boyle (hosted in 1960, 1963, 1968 and 1974; CC7 1600+) and Moira Shearer (hosted in 1972; CC7 555).

Comments

Nice finds.  I'm struggling when it comes to continental Europe...

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A lot of participants were not super well-known outside of their entry for Eurovision and/or they're still living and may not qualify for an open profile, so it can be a little tough. I think we do have some great options already, though. Wikipedia has lists of artists and songwriters for the contest from 1953-2003 and 2004-present and a list of hosts, if it helps.

If needed, maybe we could throw in some of the interval act performers (they're like the Superbowl half-time show for Americans who aren't familiar). I know Justin Timberlake and Madonna have both done that.

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Hopefully not necessary, but there's also the backup option of Will Ferrell, Pierce Brosnan etc from the recent Eurovision Song Contest film!

There's already 11 connected singers/songwriters and 3 hosts suggested, Cliff Richard is connected, so are Agnetha and Anna-Frid from ABBA, and it's only the first day of suggestions.  I'm sure there will be a nice Europe-wide range of artists by Sunday!

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Will Ferrell 'Jaja Ding Dong'. https://variety.com/2020/film/news/will-ferrell-eurovision-songs-grammy-nomination-1234865848/

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Thanks, Christy.

Answer 5

Dana (Born Rosemary Brown), winner in 1970. Ireland's 1st winner while still a young schoolgirl.Born in Islington, London but 'relocated' to her father's home city of Derry when she was five. Dana(Irish for bold or mischievous) Still performing today after several years as a MEP (Member of European Parliament) and a few failed attempts to become President of Ireland,the first one being in 1997 19701999

'All kinds of Everything' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYTLoa6DGS0

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Brown-177431

Comments

Tough one to research, and as she's Living we'd need the Notables or Ireland project involved.  Father confirmed as Robert Brown from Derry, mother was Susan (but known as Sheila) - probably Sheerin because her mother was Ellen Sheerin.  No 1951 Islington birth records for Rosemary Brown on Familysearch, there are a few across England (one in Norwich with a parent Sheens which may be a transcription error).

Having said that, Sheila Sheerin's birthdate is mentioned in the news article, and as it's before 1921 she should be on Irishgenealogy.net.  And she is!  Full name Susanna Theresa Sheerin, daughter of Bernard Sheerin, labourer and Ellen Hassan.  So there's a jump-off point, at least.

(Update: 1911 census, Bernard has 4 siblings.  Birth record for one of them reveals parents William Sheerin and Mary McDaid.   Their marriage record reveals respective parents John Sheerin and ?Ben McDaid.  1901 census has a couple more siblings for Bernard, father William alive but a widower, his birth location Donegal.  I see there are Donegal Sheerins on Wikitree...)

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@Stephen Corkey : you are really enjoying this topic. One source gives her birth year as 1950. I just found one on findmypast with MMN as Sheerin. <ref>
'''Birth Registration''':
"England & Wales Births 1837-2006"<br/>
Volume: 5C; Page: 1449<br/>
[https://www-findmypast-co-uk.nls.idm.oclc.org/transcript?id=BMD%2FB%2F1950%2F3%2FAZ%2F000151%2F060 FindMyPast Transcription] (accessed 1 May 2024)<br/>
Rosemary Brown birth registered in Islington, mother's maiden name Sheerin.
</ref>

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I've got Sheila hooked up on Familysearch, now the trick is finding someone there who is also on Wikitree...

More eyes (or sniffer dogs?) will make this easier!  Can you find the connect before I do?

Edit: found a connection but it's a long old route.  Hobbs-1999 had a son Clinton (per Familysearch), married Florence Roena Cunningham, daughter of Samuel who was the brother of Annie Cunningham who married Edward McClintock, their son John James had a son John James who married Sarah Kathleen Brown, daughter of William Brown and Mary Hamilton.  Her brother David Elvin Hamilton had a son David Elvin Hamilton, who married Maureen Simpson, the daughter of Samuel Simpson and Elizabeth Moore.  Elizabeth's sister Mary (born Ann Mary Moore) married James Quigg, their daughter Margaret married Edward McCourt whose father was Patrick McCourt, whose own father was Edward McCourt, a shop doctor and later a taxidermist in Londonderry.  His son (Patrick's brother) was James McCourt who married Lizzie Sheerin, whose brother Bernard Sheerin was Sheila's father and Dana's grandfather.

If anyone wants to do a bit of the chain we can relay each other!

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Why does Clinton,son of Hobbs-1999 become a Stuart? Clinton and Florence Roena are both 'Stuart' on headstone. https://billiongraves.com/grave/Florence-Roena-Stuart/29887134

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Good question.  In fact no sources for either of them, or her parents on Familysearch, her birth is marked Ireland but her mother was born and died New Zealand.

Without sources we can't make WT profiles so this is not a useful connection.  We will have to sniff out a different one.

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Thanks, Patrick and Stephen.

Answer 6

Like this one !  Glad someone else has nominated Cliff Richard and Terry Wogan.  Those were the first names I thought off.    I'd like to think outside the box and nominate American born Michael Flatley who thirty years ago this week together with Jean Butler introduced Riverdance to the world as the interval of the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin.  The rest is history along with Lord of the Dance.   I made a profile for him in 2021 but he's not connected yet unfortunately.   Can someone from the team open up his profile so that other Wikitreers can help me add to his line and try to get him connected by next week !  No pressure then. 

Comments

Father and mother.  So we can all start trying to connect straight away!

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nice thought. My husband's cousin made a nice living out of touring with Riverdance in the US for many years! Unfortunately the cousin isn't on wikitree.

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Thanks Stephen - good thinking

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Thanks, Maria.

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Just to let everyone know that Michael Flatley is now connected to the tree.  I feel like dancing a jig !!!

Answer 7

Cornelia Maria Brokken, 1957 winner representing the Netherlands. She also represented the Netherlands in 1956 and 1958. She presented Eurovison in 1976 and announced the Dutch vote in 1997. CC7: 317

Her profile is very new, so the CC7 hasn't loaded yet. It'll be added here when it has and I'll be working on it in the coming days.

Comments

The jury from the United Kingdom awards Douze Points to Monique!

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Hi Monique,

I will help to expand her CC7 connections.

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Thanks, Monique and Elsa.

Answer 8

Englebert Humperdink (Arnold George Dorsey)

performed for England in 2012. 

Not connected, with father and grand father having profiles.

Managed by Notables.

Comments

I've found a connection.  His parents are on Familysearch but only with their first 8 children, up to 1934.  His sister Mavis married the son of Patrick Alexander Sutherland.  I can see his CC7 getting big very quickly.  I'll join them up.

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Might take a bit longer, both parents are private profiles (though both are deceased).  I'll send a request but might not get a response before the challenge is over.

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Thanks, Frances.

Answer 9

Henriette Paerl (1921-2013) represented the Netherlands in 1956 and was the first to sing at the competition. She was also a resistance fighter in World War II. However, she has no profile, so I hope to add one soon. If anyone would like to help, that would be much appreciated!

edit: Paërl is now connected. CC7 of 175, image, and relatively reasonable biography.

Comments

I've added a simple profile for her here: Henriette Nanette Paërl and connected her to the tree.

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Thank you very much!

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Thanks, Anonymous and Monique.

Answer 10

Also a member of ABBA, Anni-Frid Lyngstad was married to small, but old German Nobility. She has a bio, an image and is connected to her two husbands apart from Benny.

Comments

Thanks, Jelena.