Easy listening
“Strangers In The Night” composer Bert Kaempfert would be 100
Bert Kaempfert would be 100. Photo
© Wolfgang Weihs/dpa
Millions of people still sing, hum and whistle his songs today: Bert Kaempfert was one of the most successful German composers of the 20th century. He was one of the discoverers of the Beatles.
The music owes him world-famous melodies such as “Strangers In The Night”, “Spanish Eyes” and the catchy tune “Liebeschön” (spelled “Thank You Schoen”): the internationally successful German composer, arranger and bandleader Bert Kaempfert (1923-1980) would have an 100th birthday this Monday (October 16th).
He was a “King of Easy Listening.” In his birthplace Hamburg will celebrate the milestone anniversary with two live orchestra concerts. Jazz stars want to revive Kaempfert’s good-humored swing.
Kaempfert’s international career began with “Wonderland By Night”. The song reached number one in the US charts in 1960. At that time, Kaempfert was the first German bandleader to receive a gold record in America. Soon his nickname was “Mister Hitmaker”, with ever new global successes in the unmistakable orchestral sound.
World stars gilded his songs with their vocal versions, including Frank Sinatra (“Strangers In The Night”), Nat “King” Cole (“LOVE”), Al Martino (“Spanish Eyes”) and Wayne Newton (“Thank You Schoen”). Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald, Shirley Bassey, Herb Alpert, Caterina Valente, Andy Willams and many others were also internationally successful with Kaempfert compositions.
The art of lightness
Kaempfert’s catchy tunes sound easy, but if you listen closely, there are often ingenious constructions behind all the lightness. The all-round talent created 400 compositions and around 700 orchestral arrangements in his life. By the time of his death in 1980 – he died at the age of just 56 – 150 million records of his melodies had been sold worldwide. As one of the first people in the music industry, he recognized the talent of the English pop group The Beatles and produced early recordings with these young musicians.
In June 1980, Kaempfert gave his last concert at the sold-out Royal Albert Hall in London. More than 5,000 enthusiastic listeners didn’t want to let him and his orchestra leave the stage even after the fourth encore. Exhausted and happy, he finally pulled the emergency brake: “I would like to continue, but I have no more notes. And my musicians are thirsty!” Five days later he died in Cala Blava on Mallorca as a result of a stroke.
To mark the music legend’s 100th birthday, Götz Alsmann and a selection of well-known artists from pop, jazz and pop will celebrate two swinging Kaempfert events in Hamburg’s Laeiszhalle on October 21st and 22nd. Featuring: Pat Appleton, De-Phazz, Karl Frierson, Marc Secara, Sylvia Vrethammar, Pe Werner and Jiggs Whigham.