Betty Mars

Jul 30, 1944 - Feb 20, 1989 (44 years old) in Paris, France

Betty Mars (born Yvette Baheux, 30 July 1944 in Paris – 20 February 1989 in Paris) was a French singer and actress, best known for her participation in the 1972 Eurovision Song Contest.

Mars was the youngest of ten children and from an early age showed a flair for dance and acrobatics. By age 16 she was appearing in revues and spent the 1960s travelling as a lead performer in shows around Europe and the Americas.

In 1971 she was spotted singing in cabaret by composer Frédéric Botton, who offered her the song "Monsieur l'étranger" which became her first recording.

In 1972, Mars was chosen to sing the Botton-penned "Comé-comédie" as the French representative in the 17th Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 25 March in Edinburgh. "Comé-comédie" is an unmistakably French chanson-style song, which finished in 11th place of 18 entries.

Reportedly beset by emotional and financial problems, Mars jumped from a window of her flat in La Défense on 31 January 1989. She died three weeks later, on 20 February in the Foch Hospital at Suresnes.

Source: Article "Betty Mars" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.