Horst Jankowski facts for kids
Horst Jankowski (born January 30, 1936 – died June 29, 1998) was a talented German pianist. He was known around the world for his popular "easy listening" music. He also had a strong background in classical music.
Horst Jankowski's Life Story
Horst Jankowski was born in Berlin, Germany. He studied music at the Berlin Music Conservatory. In the 1950s, he played jazz music in Germany. He even led the band for a famous singer named Caterina Valente.
Jankowski became very famous as a composer of easy listening pop music. This happened in 1965 with his song "Eine Schwarzwaldfahrt." In English, this song was called "A Walk in the Black Forest."
This tune became a big pop hit. It reached number one on the US easy listening chart. It also reached number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the UK Singles Chart, it reached number 3. The song sold over one million copies. Because of this, it earned a special award called a gold disc.
"A Walk in the Black Forest" was shown on the BBC's TV show Pop Go The Sixties. This show looked back at the music of the 1960s. It was broadcast on December 31, 1969. The song is also played at the end of every game for the Plymouth Argyle F.C. football team. Fans hear it as they leave the stadium.
The album The Genius of Jankowski!, released in 1965, also sold over a million copies. Horst Jankowski released many successful albums after that. In the 1970s, he started to focus more on jazz music. He even made cover songs of popular pop and rock hits. From 1989 to 1994, Jankowski composed and performed easy listening music for a company called Sonoton in Germany.
Horst Jankowski passed away in 1998. He was 62 years old.
Horst Jankowski's Music Albums
Horst Jankowski released many albums during his career. Here are some of his well-known recordings:
- My Fair Lady Mit Horst Jankowski (1964; Mercury Records)
- The Genius of Jankowski! (1964; Mercury Records)
- More Genius of Jankowski (1965; Mercury Records)
- Still More Genius of Jankowski (1966; Mercury Records)
- So What's New? (1966; Mercury Records)
- A Walk in the Evergreens (1969; Mercury Records)
- Jankowski Meets Beethoven (1970; Mercury Records)
- Jankowskingsize – For Nightpeople Only (1970; MPS)
- Return to the Black Forest (1975; Rediffusion)
- Happy Blue Piano (1982; Sonoton / Intersound)
- Black Forest Explosion! (1997; Motor Music)
- Eine Schwarzwaldfahrt (1998; Mercury Records)
With Johnny Hodges
- Johnny Hodges and His Strings Play the Prettiest Gershwin (Verve, 1958)
See also
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart
