Frank Farian facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frank Farian
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Farian in 2008
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Franz Reuther |
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| Born | 18 July 1941 Kirn, Germany |
| Died | January 2024 (aged 82) Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Record producer, vocalist |
| Years active | 1958–2024 |
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Frank Farian (born Franz Reuther; 18 July 1941 – January 2024) was a famous German singer and record producer. A record producer is someone who helps create music recordings. They guide artists and manage the recording process. Frank Farian was known for creating popular music groups. These included the 1970s disco-pop group Boney M., the Latin pop band No Mercy, and the pop band Milli Vanilli.
Farian often formed groups where the people seen by the public would pretend to sing. The real singing was done by other musicians behind the scenes. He owned his own record label, MCI, and other companies. Throughout his career, Frank Farian sold over 850 million records. He also received 800 gold and platinum awards for his music.
Contents
Early Life and First Steps in Music
Frank Farian was born Franz Reuther in Kirn, Germany, on 18 July 1941. He grew up with his mother and two siblings. His father passed away in the Second World War before he was born.
He first trained to be a cook. But then he discovered rock and roll music. He changed his name to Frank Farian and started a band called Frankie Boys Schatten. Their first song, "Shouting Ghost," came out in 1964, but it was not a hit.
Music Career and Big Hits
In April 1967, Frank Farian released a cover song called "Mr. Pitiful." He signed a contract as a solo singer and started making pop music. He even appeared on a TV show called Hitparade. In 1976, his German version of the song "Rocky" was number one for four weeks. It also earned a gold award.
Boney M.: A Global Sensation
In late 1974, Farian recorded a song called "Baby Do You Wanna Bump." It was released in 1976 under the name Boney M. He then put together the group Boney M. It included singers Liz Mitchell and Marcia Barrett. There was also a front-man, Bobby Farrell, and a dancer, Maizie Williams.
Boney M. became very successful around the world. Their hit songs included "Daddy Cool", "Rivers of Babylon", "Rasputin" and "Mary's Boy Child". Just like with Milli Vanilli later, Bobby Farrell did not actually sing. He would pretend to sing to Frank Farian's own voice during performances.
Far Corporation: The Supergroup
Farian also created a "supergroup" called Far Corporation. A supergroup is a band made up of famous musicians from other successful bands. This group included members from the band Toto.
Far Corporation was the first group to have a hit song with a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven." Their version reached number 8 in the UK in 1985.
Working with Meat Loaf
In 1986, Farian produced and mixed the album Blind Before I Stop for the rock singer Meat Loaf. Farian also sang background vocals on one of the album's songs, "Rock 'n' Roll Mercenaries."
Milli Vanilli: The Lip-Sync Controversy
On 14 November 1990, Frank Farian revealed something important about the band Milli Vanilli. He had put together the group with good-looking dancers, Robert Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan. However, other musicians were the ones who actually sang on the albums.
During a performance in 1989, there was a technical problem with the music. This showed that the singers were pretending to sing. Farian later told the public that the voices on the albums were not Rob and Fab's. Because of this, Milli Vanilli's 1990 Grammy Award for Best New Artist was taken back.
Other Successful Music Projects
After the Milli Vanilli situation, Farian created other popular dance music groups. These included La Bouche and Le Click. He also produced the 1997 version of "Tic, Tic Tac" by Chilli Feat. Carrapicho.
Some other groups Farian worked with were Eruption and the Latin pop band No Mercy. He also managed singer Precious Wilson.
Daddy Cool Musical
On 15 August 2006, a musical called Daddy Cool opened in London. A musical is a play that tells a story through songs and acting. This show cost £3 million to create and was produced by Farian.
The story of the musical was mostly based on the songs of Boney M. But it also included songs by Milli Vanilli, Eruption, La Bouche, and No Mercy. The musical later opened in Berlin, Germany, and toured in other countries like the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland.
Personal Life
Frank Farian lived in Miami, Florida, in the United States. He had three daughters with his former wife and his long-time partner, Chinya Onyewenjo. He also had a son. In 2021, his daughter Yanina sang with him on a cover of the song "Cherish."
Frank Farian passed away in Miami in January 2024, at the age of 82.
Discography
Studio Albums
- So ein Tag (1971)
- So muß Liebe sein (1973)
- Rocky (1976)
- Division One (1985)
- Solitude (1994)
Compilation Albums
- Star Discothek (1978)
- The Hit Man – The Best of 25 Years (1994)
- The Hit Collection – The Best of 25 Years (1994)
- The Hit Man II (2000)
- Summer Hits (2001)
- Dieter Thomas Heck präsentiert: 40 Jahre ZDF Hitparade (2009)
- Produced by Frank Farian (2009)
Singles
- "Shouting Ghost" (1964)
- "Yakety Yak" (1964)
- "Under the Boardwalk" (1965)
- "Mr. Pitiful" (1967)
- "Gipsy" (1968)
- "Dana My Love" (1968)
- "Ein Kissen voller Träume" (1969)
- "Speedy Jack" (1970)
- "Du bist wunderbar" (1971)
- "Morgens, mittags, abends – Barbara" (1971)
- "So ein Tag" (1971)
- "Gold in Acapulco" (1972)
- "Leg den Kopf an meine Schulter" (1972)
- "Was kann schöner sein" (1973)
- "So muß Liebe sein" (1973)
- "Wunderbar" (1973)
- "Bleib bei mir" (1974)
- "An mir soll es nicht liegen" (1974)
- "Atlantica" (1975)
- "My Decision" (1975)
- "Cara mia bleib" (1975)
- "Rocky" (1976)
- "Spring über deinen Schatten, Tommy" (1976)
- "Sie war erst 17 (und neu in der Stadt)" (1977)
- "Mother and Child Reunion" (1985)
- "Stairway to Heaven" (1985)
- "Fire and Water" (1986)
- "You Are the Woman" (1986)
- "One By One" (1987)
- "Sebastian" (1987)
- "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" (1994)
- "Rainy Days" (1994)
Albums Produced (Selection)
- Boney M.
- Take the Heat off Me
- Love for Sale
- Nightflight to Venus
- Oceans of Fantasy
- The Magic of Boney M. – 20 Golden Hits
- Gold – 20 Super Hits
- Gilla
- Help! Help! (1977)
- Meat Loaf
- Blind Before I Stop (1986)
- Milli Vanilli
- All or Nothing (1988)
- Girl You Know It's True (1989)
- La Bouche
- Sweet Dreams (1995)
- No Mercy
- My Promise (1996)
- Eruption
- Eruption (1977)
- Leave a Light (1979)
- Precious Wilson
- On the Race Track (1980)
- All Coloured in Love (1982)
- Funky Fingers (1983)
Images for kids
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A robot for kids.
See Also
In Spanish: Frank Farian para niños
