Born in Gertungshausen, Coburg, Germany, he was a lyricist and composer who, at the age of three, conducted a group of Bohemian musicians.
He learned to play the violin and piano but was then called for service during WWII, where he was a wireless operator and provided “light music” for the soldiers at the front. He was put in wartime punishment detention and started to arrange music for the prison camp orchestra. After release he wrote cabaret texts for the Bavarian Radio.
He then decided to leave arranging and composition and concentrate on lyrics. He wrote and co-wrote songs for many bands and artists including “Monsieur” for Petula Clark and “Desert Land” for the successful German group “Djinghis Khan”. He also wrote songs for German films which included Einmal Noch die Heimat Sehen in 1958 and Fraustrecht de Freiheit (Fox and his Friends) in 1975.
He was also known under the pseudonym Felix Prost, and only wrote in green, with a green pen, has green ribbon in his typewriter and has green carbon paper.
He was quoted as having said he “would have no doubt become a great musician if his music teacher had chosen Mozart and not Wagner to plague him”.
He wrote over 1300 songs during his career with 3 becoming platinum and 12 gaining gold status and in 2006 he was awarded Honorary Membership by GEMA.
He also studied astronomy and built an observatory on top of his house at Grunwald.
He passed away in Grunwald, Germany, in 2007 when he was 81 years old.
Genghis Khan Recordings
Desert Land (Ralph Siegel/Kurt Hertha – Bernd Meinunger – Christian Dornaus)
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