Kathy Leander
Encyclopedia
Kathy Leander is a Swiss
singer.
She was born in the village of Alle in the Canton of Jura
, Switzerland
, on May 24, 1963 as Catherine Meyer. From the age of thirteen, she sang in the choir
at her home village church and performed at several local events.
In 1989 she moved to Geneva
where she began singing in night clubs. She also performed in the cellars of St-Germain-des-Près, Paris
, and in Parisian jazz
clubs.
Leander was one of the best performers at a country music festival in Geneva
in 1991, and won the 1992 Europa Song Festival, held in Bordeaux
.
She was an employee of a bank
in Geneva
when she was chosen by Swiss television to represent her country at the 1996 Eurovision Song Contest
in Oslo
, singing the ballad Mon Cœur L'Aime (My heart loves him). She was promised a recording contract if she finished in the top five places in the contest, but she placed only 16th. On her return from Oslo Leander returned to her day job.
In 2000, now calling herself Catherine Leander, she duetted with Enric Orlandi on a single, Weil ich zu dir gehör' , released in the German-speaking countries. The following year she released Rêves à deux, an album of romantic duets with French singer Alan Ségal (the album was credited to Cathy et Alan Ségal), which was very popular in Ségal's home region of Alsace
. Since 2003 she has been a backing singer for Swiss rock
musician Stef de Genf
.
In 2003 Leander came third in the talent show Merci, on vous écrira organised by Swiss TV station TSR. Her first solo album, Je m'ennuie de vous, was released in April 2006.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
singer.
She was born in the village of Alle in the Canton of Jura
Canton of Jura
The Republic and Canton of the Jura , also known as the Canton of Jura or Canton Jura, is one of the cantons of Switzerland. It is the newest of the 26 Swiss cantons, located in the northwestern part of Switzerland. The capital is Delémont...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, on May 24, 1963 as Catherine Meyer. From the age of thirteen, she sang in the choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
at her home village church and performed at several local events.
In 1989 she moved to Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
where she began singing in night clubs. She also performed in the cellars of St-Germain-des-Près, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and in Parisian jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
clubs.
Leander was one of the best performers at a country music festival in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
in 1991, and won the 1992 Europa Song Festival, held in Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
.
She was an employee of a bank
Bank
A bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...
in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
when she was chosen by Swiss television to represent her country at the 1996 Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1996
The Eurovision Song Contest 1996 was the 41st Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 18 May 1996 in Oslo Spektrum in Oslo, Norway. The presenters were Ingvild Bryn and Morten Harket. Harket, lead singer of a-ha, opened the show with a performance of his single "Heaven's Not For Saints". Eimear...
in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, singing the ballad Mon Cœur L'Aime (My heart loves him). She was promised a recording contract if she finished in the top five places in the contest, but she placed only 16th. On her return from Oslo Leander returned to her day job.
In 2000, now calling herself Catherine Leander, she duetted with Enric Orlandi on a single, Weil ich zu dir gehör' , released in the German-speaking countries. The following year she released Rêves à deux, an album of romantic duets with French singer Alan Ségal (the album was credited to Cathy et Alan Ségal), which was very popular in Ségal's home region of Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
. Since 2003 she has been a backing singer for Swiss rock
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
musician Stef de Genf
Stef de Genf
Stef de Genf is a Swiss rock singer.- References :...
.
In 2003 Leander came third in the talent show Merci, on vous écrira organised by Swiss TV station TSR. Her first solo album, Je m'ennuie de vous, was released in April 2006.