Joe Grech

Joseph (Joe) Grech, (born 9 February 1934) is a Maltese singer, who was born in Cospicua, Malta. He is best known for introducing Maltese language singing to an international audience, especially through his participation in Eurovision Song Contest 1971, the first appearance from Malta on this pan-European television event.

At a very early stage in his life, Joe started to play the trumpet with the Zejtun Band Club. However, he soon switched to singing.

He was the first singer to win the first Malta Song Festival in 1960, a festival which was organized by the Żgħażagħ Ħaddiema Nsara, the local section of the Young Christian Workers. The festival was held at the Radio City Opera House in Hamrun, Malta. Ten songs were presented in the semi final of Thursday 3 November and another ten songs on the semi-final of Friday 4 November. Out of these twenty songs, ten made it to the final night of Saturday 5 November 1960. The Winning Song was Joe Grech's own composition "Vola Uccellino".

The festival was also transmitted on Rediffusion Malta, then a cable radio service provider in Malta since September 1935. Victor Aquilina and Marlene Lauri were the comperes of this festival. Two orchestras conducted by Prof. Giorlando Valente and Mro. Dominic Vella respectively, accompanied the ten songs. Eight of these songs were sung in Italian, one in English and one in Maltese, the latter being "L-Għada tal-Festa Ma' Vitorin". This song was sung by Frans Fenech and Terry L. Bencini. Incidentally Terry was also awarded the Best Singer Trophy of this festival.

Again in 1962 Joe was classified as the winner of the Malta Song Festival with the song "Żgħażagħ Rebbieħa" written and composed by Ivo Galea B.A. Hons L.P. This was also interpreted by Carmen Schembri, later Gusman. Carmelo Abela was responsible for the orchestration.

Joe married Josephine née' Buttigieg on 24 September 1961. They have a daughter Marcelle, also a versatile singer.

In 1965, the "Impresa Valente" chose Joe Grech to represent Malta in the Italian Festival of Martina Franca. Another Maltese singer, Tony Agius, also participated in this festival. In those days, it was very rare for a Maltese singer to participate in an Italian festival, let alone win a trophy as the Best Foreign Singer of this Italian festival. The then Italian High Commissioner of Italy for Malta, Signor Antonio Spada, presented a trophy to Joe Grech

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