RIP Claude, founder of the greatest music festival in Switzerland.


Claude Nobs, the founder and general manager of the Montreux Jazz Festival, whose passion for music and artistry introduced generations of legendary musicians to international audiences on the Swiss stage, has died. He was 76.

An early incident involving the rock group Deep Purple, which had come to Montreux to record an album after performing with Frank Zappa, became forever linked with Nobs.

During a fire at Zappa's concert in 1971, Nobs rushed to save several young concert-goers. Deep Purple's hit song, "Smoke on the Water," would memorialize the accident - Nobs as "Funky Claude" pulling kids to safety.

http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/touring/claude-nobs-montreux-jazz-festival-founder-1008085172.story