Dieter Bohlen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dieter Bohlen
Bohlen in 2019
Born	Dieter Günter Bohlen (1954-02-07) 7 February 1954 (age 71) Berne, West Germany
Occupation	Songwriter producer singer television personality
Years active	1973–present
Spouse(s)	Erika Sauerland ​ ​ (m. 1983; div. 1989)​ Verona Feldbusch ​ ​ (m. 1996; div. 1997)​
Partner(s)	Nadja Abd el Farrag (1989–1996, 1997–2001) Estefania Küster (2001–2006) Fatma Carina Walz (2006–present)
Children	6
Musical career
Genres	Pop Europop synth-pop Eurodance Euro disco Schlager
Instruments	Vocals guitar keyboards

Dieter Bohlen (born Dieter Günter Bohlen on 7 February 1954) is a famous German songwriter, producer, singer, and TV star. He became well-known in the 1980s as part of the pop duo Modern Talking. Since then, he has produced music for many German and international artists. He is also a judge on popular TV talent shows like Deutschland sucht den Superstar and Das Supertalent.

Life and Music Career

Early Life and First Steps in Music (1954–1984)

Bohlen (right) with the band Sunday in 1981

Dieter Bohlen grew up in East Frisia, Germany. He is the oldest son of Hans and Edith Bohlen. As a young person, he started writing music while still in school.

In the late 1970s, he worked as a songwriter for a music label in Hamburg. He wrote songs for many German pop singers. In 1978, he formed a short-lived duo called Monza. Their first songs were not very successful.

In 1980, he started working for Hansa Records in Berlin. He also released some solo songs in English under the name Steve Benson. These songs did not become hits. Later, he joined a band called Sunday. They appeared on a TV show in 1982 with their song "Halé, hey Louise." In 1983, he helped write a song for Bernd Clüver called "Mit 17." This song came in third place in the German competition for the Eurovision Song Contest.

Becoming a Successful Producer (1984–Present)

Dieter Bohlen first worked with singer Thomas Anders on some songs that didn't do well. Then, in 1984, they created the pop duo Modern Talking. This band became incredibly popular. They had five number-one hits in Germany in a row. These included "You're My Heart, You're My Soul" and "Cheri, Cheri Lady." They were also very successful in other parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa.

In 1987, Modern Talking broke up. Bohlen then started his own music project called Blue System. This project lasted for ten years. He also kept writing and producing songs for other artists. He discovered singer C. C. Catch and worked with boy band Touché.

In 1986, Bohlen wrote "Midnight Lady," a hit song for former Smokie singer Chris Norman. This song was very popular in Central Europe. In 1989, two songs he wrote were part of the Eurovision Song Contest. Nino de Angelo sang "Flieger" for Germany, and Thomas Forstner sang "Nur ein Lied" for Austria. Also in 1989, Bohlen created the music for the TV series Rivalen der Rennbahn. This music album sold very well in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

In the early 1990s, Bohlen worked with singer Bonnie Tyler. They created successful songs like "Bitterblue" and "Against the Wind." In 1992, another song he composed, "Zusammen geh'n," was sung by Tony Wegas for Austria at the Eurovision Song Contest.

Bohlen (left) and Thomas Anders performing as Modern Talking in 2003

In 1998, Modern Talking reunited and had another successful period. They released new versions of their hits and songs for Formula One races. They split up again in 2003.

In 2002, the German version of Pop Idol, called Deutschland sucht den Superstar (often shortened to DSDS), started. Dieter Bohlen became one of the judges. He has been a judge every season since the show began. He has produced many songs for the show's winners, including the hit "We Have a Dream."

That same year, he released his first book, an autobiography called Nichts als die Wahrheit. It sold over a million copies in Germany. He released a second book, Hinter den Kulissen, the next year. In 2004, he won the ECHO award for Producer of the Year.

Bohlen performing in Moscow in 2006

In 2006, a cartoon movie based on his first book, called Dieter: Der Film, was released. Bohlen wrote all the music for the film. Later that year, he produced a song for the duo Indiggo. In 2007, he became a judge on Das Supertalent, the German version of Got Talent. Like DSDS, he has been a judge every season.

From 2010, Bohlen worked with singer Andrea Berg. All the albums he produced for her, like Schwerelos and Abenteuer, reached the top of the charts in Germany and Austria. Their collaboration ended in 2018, but they announced new songs together in 2019.

Music Style

Dieter Bohlen's music often has simple structures. In the 1980s and 1990s, he created Euro disco and Eurodance songs for Modern Talking, Blue System, and C. C. Catch. These songs often featured high-pitched choruses sung by session singers. With the winners of Deutschland sucht den Superstar, Bohlen often focuses on pop ballads.

There have been claims that some of Bohlen's songs sounded very similar to other existing songs. For example, it was claimed that a song he produced for Yvonne Catterfeld, "Für dich," used a melody similar to Babyface's "What If." An investigation was started but later dropped.

Other Activities

Bohlen signing autographs at a Camp David store opening in Oldenburg in April 2016

TV Talent Shows

Bohlen has been a judge on Deutschland sucht den Superstar since it began in 2002. He is known for his direct and sometimes funny comments to contestants. He has worked with many of the show's winners and other contestants, helping them create hit songs. He has also been a judge on Das Supertalent since it started in 2007, being the only judge to appear in every season.

Products and Advertising

Dieter Bohlen has worked with many companies for advertising. He has promoted products for brands like Müller Milch, S.Oliver, and the German railway company Deutsche Bahn. He has been a long-time advertising partner for the fashion brand Camp David.

Between 2002 and 2008, Bohlen published several books, including his autobiographies and advice books. In 2005, he launched his own perfume called Provocation. In 2011, he started a clothing label called "Needs Clothing." In 2013, he released his own line of wallpapers.

Personal Life

Bohlen in 2013

Dieter Bohlen was married to Erika Sauerland from 1983 to 1989. They have three children: Marc, Marvin, and Marielin. He was in a relationship with TV personality Nadja Abd el Farrag from 1989 to 1996, and again from 1997 to 2001.

In 1996, Bohlen married model Verona Feldbusch, but they separated after only four weeks. From 2001 to 2006, he lived with model Estefania Küster. Their son, Maurice Cassian, was born in 2005. Since 2006, he has been in a relationship with Fatma Carina Walz. They met in Mallorca, Spain. They have a daughter named Amelie (born 2011) and a son named Maximilian (born 2013).

Dieter Bohlen lives in the village of Tötensen near Hamburg. He is naturally left-handed but learned to write with his right hand in school. He plays tennis with his left hand. He is known to be one of the wealthiest people in Germany.

Music Releases

Solo Albums

Solo Singles

Number 1 Hits in Germany (as producer/songwriter)

Awards and Recognition

Books by Dieter Bohlen

• Dieter Bohlen, Katja Kessler: Nichts als die Wahrheit, 2002
• Dieter Bohlen, Katja Kessler: Hinter den Kulissen, 2003
• Dieter Bohlen: Meine Hammer-Sprüche, 2006
• Dieter Bohlen: Nur die Harten kommen in den Garten! Der Weg zum Superstar, 2008
• Dieter Bohlen: Der Bohlenweg – Planieren statt Sanieren, 2008

See also

In Spanish: Dieter Bohlen para niños