Claude Nobs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Claude Nobs
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Claude Nobs, founder and general manager of the famous Montreux Jazz Festival, 2006
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| Born | February 4, 1936 Territet, Montreux, Switzerland
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| Died | January 10, 2013 (aged 76) |
Claude Nobs (born February 4, 1936 – died January 10, 2013) was a very important person in music. He was the founder and main organizer of the famous Montreux Jazz Festival.
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Claude Nobs: A Life in Music
Claude Nobs was born in Montreux, Switzerland. He first trained to be a cook. Later, he worked for the Tourism Office in Montreux. This job helped him meet many people.
He traveled to New York and met Nesuhi Ertegün. Nesuhi was the president of Atlantic Records, a big music company. Claude also met singer Roberta Flack and invited her to a music event. Thanks to Claude, Aretha Franklin also visited Europe for the first time.
Starting the Montreux Jazz Festival
When Claude was 31, he was still working for the Montreux Tourism Office. He had a great idea: he organized the very first jazz festival! Famous artists like Charles Lloyd and Keith Jarrett performed there.
This new festival was a huge success right away. It quickly became famous far beyond Switzerland. Claude Nobs turned his festival into a major international event for jazz music lovers.
The Casino Fire and "Smoke on the Water"
In 1971, the band Deep Purple came to Montreux. They planned to record their album Machine Head at the Montreux Casino. This was right after a concert by Frank Zappa.
During Zappa's concert, someone in the audience fired a flare gun. This caused a huge fire that burned the Casino down. Claude Nobs, who was a volunteer firefighter, bravely saved many young people. They had hidden in the casino, thinking they would be safe. Claude knew it was dangerous and got them out quickly.
This brave act earned him a mention in the famous song "Smoke on the Water". The song is about the fire. The line "Funky Claude was running in and out pulling kids out the ground" is about him! His picture was also on the album cover, which was a special honor.
Working with Music Companies
In 1973, Claude Nobs became the director of the Swiss branch of Warner, Elektra, and Atlantic. These are all big music companies.
You can even hear Claude's voice on a live album by the band Jethro Tull. On their album Bursting Out, recorded in 1978, he says in Swiss German, "Good evening everybody, and welcome to the Festhall of Bern!"
Expanding the Festival
In the 1990s, Claude Nobs worked with famous musician Quincy Jones to direct the festival. He also made Miles Davis, another jazz legend, an honorary host.
The festival grew and changed over time. It started to include more than just jazz music. It became a place for all kinds of music.
Awards and Recognition
By 2004, the Montreux Jazz Festival was attracting 200,000 visitors! Claude Nobs received several awards for his amazing work.
He got the Tourism Prize of Salz & Pfeffer. The canton (region) of Vaud in Switzerland gave him the "Prix du Rayonnement" for his contributions to music. He also received an honorary doctorate, which is a special university degree given to honor someone's achievements.
Later Life and Legacy
On December 24, 2012, Claude Nobs had an accident while Nordic skiing in Switzerland. He sadly passed away on January 10, 2013, at the age of 76.
Claude Nobs left behind an incredible legacy. The Montreux Jazz Festival continues to be one of the most important music events in the world, thanks to his vision and hard work.
See also
In Spanish: Claude Nobs para niños
Images for kids
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Claude Nobs, founder and general manager of the famous Montreux Jazz Festival, 2006
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Nobs introducing the Bill Evans Trio at Montreux Jazz Festival, July 12, 1978
