Kathy Leander

Kathy Leander is a Swiss singer.

She was born in the village of Alle in the Canton of Jura, Switzerland, on May 24, 1963. 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 despite an excellent performance on the night and her beautiful voice and attractive looks 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.

External links

* [http://catherineleander.com Official site]