In 1950, he started his professional music career as a promising trumpet player at Radio Ljubljana Dance Orchestra. He also established the jazz Mojmir Sepe Band (Ansambel Mojmirja Sepeta), which published one of the first jazz vinyl records in socialist Yugoslavia. His trumpet career ended after an altercation at Opatija Festival '65 when four guys knocked out a couple of his front teeth as he defended her from having her purse stolen.[2] He committed to composing and conducting, mostly influenced by jazz and swing music.[3]
Sepe conducted both his compositions in the Eurovision Song Contest. Additionally, he was the conductor for the Slovenian entries in 1997 and 1998.[11] He was also the Slovenian jury member in the 1993 Eurovision pre-selection.
Personal life and death
Since 1956, Sepe was married to Majda Sepe, a famous Slovenian singer, for whom he also wrote music.[12] Film director Polona Sepe [sl] was born to them in 1957.
Sepe died on 24 December 2020, at the age of 90.[13]
