Jean-Paul Mauric ( 17 June 1933 , Hyères , Var – 5 January 1971 , Marseille ) was a French singer , best known for his participation in the 1961 Eurovision Song Contest . Mauric studied at the Conservatoire de Toulon , and after touring around Provence as an orchestra singer , he obtained a record contract as a result of winning a talent contest at the Théâtre Marigny in Paris in 1957 . From 1958 , Mauric released a series of popular EPs , and in 1961 was chosen to represent France in the sixth Eurovision Song Contest , held on his home ground in Cannes on 18 March . Mauric 's uptempo song " Printemps , avril carillonne " ( " Springtime , April calling " ) finished in a respectable fourth place of the 16 entries . ( Its lyric of " Bing et bong et bing et bong ... " is often cited as setting a precedent which would become very prolific in later Eurovisions . ) Mauric 's record releases tailed off as the 1960s progressed , but he remained a popular live performer . His career was cut short when he was taken ill in December 1970 , and died on 5 January 1971 from complications of cardiomyopathic disease , aged 37
Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1961
Jean-Paul Mauric