Claude Nobs
Country
Switzerland
Birth - Death
1936 - 2013
Occupation
Entertainment
Description
Founder (1967) and General Manager, Montreux Jazz Festival, one of the world's pre-eminent jazz festivals. Later expanded the repertoire of the festival to include rock & roll, blues, and contemporary music. The festival is particularly noted for the success of live-recordings from the event. Previously worked as Director of Tourism for the city of Montreux. Former director of the Swiss branch of Warner, Elektra and Atlantic. The Claude Nobs Foundation is named in his honour. LGBTQ activist who actively campaigned for same-sex marriage legislation in Switzerland.
Immortalized in the band Deep Purple's song 'Smoke on the Water' - the festival was originally staged at the Montreux casino, but in 1971 a fire broke out while Frank Zappa was performing. Deep Purple immortalized the event the following year when the song referred to Nobs, who saved many people in the blaze, as 'Funky Claude'.
See Also
- LGBTQ Jazz
- LGBTQ Travel and Tourist Operators and Promoters
- Marriage Equality Advocates in the LGBTQ Community
