Sunday, October 17, 2021

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Bert Kaempfert


Artist:Bert Kaempfert

Song:Wonderland By Night

Album:Singles+


German bandleader Bert Kaempfert topped the charts in 1961 with Wonderland By Night. Some of his other singles charted. And he had success as a songwriter. His band was very successful in the Easy Listening market. He was born Oct. 16, 1923 in Hamburg, Germany. Kaempfert played piano in the German Navy band during WWII. After the war he became a house producer for Polydor Records. He produced hits for Freddy Quinn and Ivo Robic. He recorded Wonderland By Night in 1959 with Charles Tabor on lead trumpet. When Polydor refused to release the record, Kaempfert took it to Decca in New York. Wonderland By Night topped the charts in 1961. I think it was only released as a single though Decca compiled an album afterwards. Wonderland By Night was written by cabaret artist Klaus Gunter Neumann. Kaempfert's other big hit was the 1965 single Red Roses for a Blue Lady which reached #11. His albums were big sellers in the Easy Listening market. This 2CD budget comp from the Dutch label BR covers Kaempfert's  entire career. He also hired The Beatles to back up Tony Sheridan on My Bonnie. We all know what that led to. Among Kaempfert's successful songs as a songwriter were Strangers in the Night and Danke Schoen. Kaempfert continued to release albums until he died of a stroke on June 21, 1980 at age 56. Here's Bert Kaempfert featuring Charles Tabor on trumpet performing Wonderland By Night. 

1 comment:

  1. He also has a musical piece called "That Happy Feeling." and " Swinging Safari." which I like a lot and have in my music collection downloaded from Amazon and I still listen to. He was very talented. Thank-you very much Frank.

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