Betty Mars

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 o ... ffered 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.