Horst Jankowski | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1936-01-30)30 January 1936 Berlin, Germany |
| Died | 29 June 1998(1998-06-29) (aged 62) |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Labels | |
Horst Jankowski (30 January 1936 – 29 June 1998)[1] was a classically trained Germanpianist, most famous for his internationally successfuleasy listening music.
Born inBerlin,[1] Jankowski studied at theBerlin Music Conservatory and playedjazz in Germany in the 1950s. In 1953 and 1954 he was a member ofKurt Hohenberger's orchestra, then pianist for singerCaterina Valente until 1955.
Jankowski's fame as a composer of easy listening pop peaked in 1965 with hisinstrumental "Eine Schwarzwaldfahrt", released inEnglish as "A Walk in the Black Forest". The tune became a pop hit, reaching No. 1 on the USeasy listening chart,[2] No. 12 on the USBillboard Hot 100,[3] No. 2 inCanada,[4] and No. 3 on theUK Singles Chart.[5] It sold over one million copies, and was awarded agold disc.[6] The track was featured on theBBC's review of the 1960s music scene,Pop Go The Sixties, broadcast onBBC One andZDF, on 31 December 1969. It can be heard in a 1962 episode ofPerry Mason (1957 TV series) (S5E23 "The Case of the Absent Artist"). This track has become a signature song atPlymouth Argyle F.C., being played at the end of each game as the fans leave the ground. The song also featured as a running joke in the episode "Radio Goodies" of the 1970s BBC TV seriesThe Goodies, as the only record possessed by the group's radio station.
The Genius of Jankowski album, released in 1965, was also a million seller.[6] Jankowski went on to score a string of successful albums, but moved on in the 1970s to concentrate more on jazz, includingcovers of pop and rock hits.[7] Between 1989 and 1994 Jankowski composed and performed easy listening music forSonoton, Germany.
Jankowski died oflung cancer in 1998, at the age of 62.[1]
WithJohnny Hodges
