French-Italian singer Caterina Valente dies at 93

French-Italian singer Caterina Valente has died at the age of 93, her spokesman told dpa on Wednesday.

The multilingual performer, who became a star across Europe in the 1950s and 1960s, died peacefully at her house in the Swiss city of Lugano, said spokesman Günther Huber.

"At the request of the deceased, the funeral was held in strict privacy and there will be no further ceremonies or memorial services," said Huber.

Valente was born in Paris in 1931 to Italian parents. She sang in a number of languages, including English, French, Italian and German.

She achieved major success in Germany with hits including "Ganz Paris träumt von der Liebe," "Ciao, ciao, bambina" and "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Honolulu Strandbikini."

After winning Germany's Bambi media award in 2005, she retired from public life, but remained active on social media.

Late in life, she commented on Facebook: "Old age is not for weaklings."