Robert Cogoi

Robert Cogoi (born Mirko Kogoj, 25 October 1939) is a Belgian singer, best known for his participation in the 1964 Eurovision Song Contest.

Early career

Cogoi was born in Châtelet to Yugoslav parents. In 1961 he picked up a contract with Philips Records, and the following year, won first prize at the Grand Prix International des Variétés at the Casino in Ostend with the song "Si un jour", which went on to sell 100,000 copies in France, earning Cogoi a gold disc.^[1]

Eurovision Song Contest

In 1964, Cogoi was chosen as the Belgian representative to perform his self-penned song "Près de ma rivière" ("Close by My River") in the ninth Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 21 March in Copenhagen. For the first time since the inaugural contest in 1956, the Belgian entry was chosen by internal selection on the part of TV channel RTBF rather than by a public or jury vote. "Près de ma rivière" received only two votes (from Monaco and Portugal), which was enough for a joint tenth-place finish of 16 entries, as four other songs received no votes at all.^[2]

Later career

Cogoi continued releasing albums and singles, with modest success, until the late 1960s.^[1] In 1976 he appeared in the Belgium film Les arpents dorés.

After many years out of the public eye, Cogoi made a guest appearance, along with several other former Eurovision participants, at the Belgian Eurovision national final in 2005.^[3]

References