GERMAN ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES

(Continued from Page Int'l 261

FREDDY-POLYDOR WILLY HAGARA-PHILIPS

Austria on June 4, In 1956, Freddy (Quinn) was singing sailor’s bal- Willy was born in Vienna, a lads in a nightclub on the Hamburg Waterfront. 1927. When he was 19 years old, he entered the start He made his first record, a cover of “Memories singing contest in Vienna and that was Are Mode Of This,” and by the end of 1956, of his career. He made his career as a Variety record he had his first gold record for a million seller club singer until 1953 when he signed a with the song. The record went on to sell 2 mil- contract. After flopping os a tenor, Willy began with lion. Freddy is Germany’s best selling artist. The to sing cowboy songs and pop numbers and good looking, guitar playing artist is also Ger- his “Casetta In Canada" he had his first smash many’s top film star. He makes only 2 records hit. He did his first film in 1958 and is now a year, but has not failed in the last 5 years to established as a top film and TV personality. make a record which was not high on the charts, His big hit in 1961 came with the song “Pepe” certainly in the top 3. His first LP made this year which appeared in German theaters along with the theme HIT was the first German LP to sell over 100,000 the film and the flip side which was in West Germany. Freddy speaks fluent English and for a national TV show. should soon embark on an international career. He has already recorded in Spanish, French, Italian and Finnish. BERT KAEMPFERT-POLYDOR

37-year-old Bert Kaempfert is a composer, ar- ranger, orchestra leader, A&R man and recording REX GILDO’ELECTROLA artist. This many sided young man plays a num- ber of instruments and has helped many stars on the way to stordom. Even before “Wonder- 22-year-old Rex Gildo is one of Germany’s top brought his name to the public teenage stars. Rex has over 300 fan clubs and land By Night” throughout the world, Bert had turned out 2 THE HOUSE HITS is also a top star in Holland. He started his OF million sellers including “The Guitar and career on the stage and soon developed into a other The with Freddy and “Morgen” for Ivo fine talent for film. After several minor roles, Rex Sea" Robic as a producer-arranger. However, 1961 was WISHES ALL OF OUR FRIENDS got a part in a picture starring record stars his big year. His unique orchestrational sound Conny and Peter Kraus. While singing back stage, captured the popularity of the world and after he was heard by an Electrola A&R man, signed A VERY MERRY XMAS his million selling “Wonderland” success he has to a contract and his first record was at once had not only 3 hits on the Cash Box Top 100, a great success. His hits are too numerous to but several best selling LP’s. He was also the AND mention, but he has moved into the ranks of first European to be honored as the Up and leading man for film and has now taken over Coming Orchestra of the year by America's DJ’s a moior role in the hit stage presentation of A SUCCESSFUL NEW YEAR in the Cash Box poll. ”My Fair Lady” in Berlin. Records, further film work and an international career are the ambi- tions of this good looking young entertainer. PETER KRAUS-POLYDOR

Austrian born teenager Peter Kraus was the first CONNY FROBOESS- top star of the rock and roll era and one of the few to last until the present day. Peter is cm established film star, has his own TV series ELECTROLA and turns out top selling records in many lan- guages. He is planning an international career and recently finished doing a long TV series in Conny wos born in 1943, and it didn’t take long England. before young Cornelia was performing. Her first appearance took place in Berlin in 1950 when she was seven years old. She made her first record in the same year. After enjoying a top career as a child star of records and films in Ihe tradition of Judy Garland, Conny blossomed LOLITA-POLYDOR into a beautiful young lady and established her- self as Germany’s top teenage songstress. She’s The voice of the people, that’s Lolita. Even be- only 18 years old now, but is olreody a veteran fore she became world famous with her recording of over 10 years of showbusiness and is continu- of “Sailor,” Lolita was thrilling German audi- - ^ing her career as a top star of stage, screen ences with her folks songs and ballads. A small BERLIN MUNICH and TV. Conny recently did her first English gal, with a big heart, Lolita performs her songs speaking record for EMI in England under the with feeling and warmth and has won her way direction of Norry Paramor. into the heart of audiences everywhere.

The Names IN GERMANY The BIG Records are released by

ON TELDEC 9 D ECCfl TELDEC »Teiefunken-Decca« Schallplatten GmbH, Hamburg

Teldec the leading manufacturers of US records in Germany

lash Box—December 30, 1961 Part II —International Section 27