Lou Bega facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lou Bega
Bega in 2018
Background information
Birth name	David Lubega Balemezi
Born	(1975-04-13) 13 April 1975 (age 50) Munich, Bavaria, West Germany (now Germany)
Genres	Pop, Latin hip hop, Latin pop, mambo, ska
Occupation(s)	Singer
Years active	1988–present
Labels	Lautstark, BMG, RCA, Condon Musical Enterprise, Unicade, DA, Big, Matthew B. Jarvis-Benson Phillips

David Lubega Balemezi (born April 13, 1975), known by his stage name Lou Bega, is a German singer. He is most famous for his 1999 song "Mambo No. 5". This song was a remake of a 1949 instrumental piece by Pérez Prado.

Bega's version became a huge hit, reaching number one in many European countries. It was even nominated for a Grammy Award. Bega added his own lyrics to the song and used parts of the original music, a technique called sampling. His signature style mixes the sounds of the 1940s and 1950s with modern music.

Early Life and Inspirations

David Lubega Balemezi was born in Munich, Germany. His mother was from Sicily, Italy, and his father was from Uganda. His father had moved to Germany to study biology at a university in Munich.

Until he was six, Bega lived with his mother in Italy. After that, they moved to Munich, where he went to a German primary school. As a teenager, he took a trip to Miami, Florida. This trip inspired him to create his hit song, "Mambo No. 5." He also lived in Uganda for about six months.

Later in his life, Bega became interested in the Bible while in a hotel room during a storm. This led him to be baptized.

Music Career

How It All Started

Lou Bega began his music career as a rapper. When he was 13, he started a hip hop group with two friends. They released their first CD in 1990. It was during his time in Miami that he fell in love with Latin music.

When he returned to Munich, Bega met his manager and music producers. Together, they came up with the idea for "Mambo No. 5." Bega then signed a contract with the record label Lautstark.

The Success of "Mambo No. 5"

Bega performing in 1999

In 1999, "Mambo No. 5" became a massive hit all over the world. It was number one in most European countries, including Germany, the UK, and France. In the United States, it reached number three. The song was so popular in France that it stayed at number one for twenty weeks.

On July 19, 1999, Bega released his first album, A Little Bit of Mambo. It was very successful, reaching number three in both Germany and the U.S. It also hit number one in countries like Austria, Canada, and Switzerland.

Other singles from the album also did well. "I Got a Girl" was a top 10 hit in several European countries. "Tricky, Tricky" was popular in Canada and the U.S.

Later Albums and Songs

Bega's second album, Ladies and Gentlemen, came out in 2001. It was not as successful as his first album. His third album, Lounatic, was released in 2005, and his fourth, Free Again, came out in 2010.

In 2013, Bega released his fifth album, A Little Bit of 80s. On this album, he covered famous songs from the 1980s. These included hits like "Karma Chameleon" by Culture Club and "Give It Up" by KC and the Sunshine Band. His version of "Give It Up" reached number six in Germany.

In 2019, Bega released a new song called "Scatman & Hatman." The song used vocals from the 1994 hit "Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)" by Scatman John. Bega said he was inspired because Scatman John passed away in 1999, the same year "Mambo No. 5" was released.

Live Shows and TV Appearances

Lou Bega has performed all over the world for many different audiences, including royalty. He has appeared on many popular TV shows, such as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Ally McBeal.

He has also been a host at major events like the American Music Awards and the Grammy Awards. In 2015, he performed on the British TV show Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway. In 2016, he was a special guest at concerts held by the famous violinist André Rieu.

Appearances in Other Media

Bega's music and image have been used in cartoons and video games.

• He sang the theme song for the Disney Channel cartoon Brandy & Mr. Whiskers.
• He also recorded a special Disney version of "Mambo No. 5" with new lyrics.
• In the video game Tropico, players can choose Lou Bega as their character.
• In the Disney video game Walt Disney's The Jungle Book Rhythm n' Groove, Bega sings "I Wanna Be Like You". Players can unlock a video of him dancing to the song.

Awards and Nominations

Discography

Studio albums

• A Little Bit of Mambo (1999)
• Ladies and Gentlemen (2001)
• Lounatic (2005)
• Free Again (2010)
• A Little Bit of 80s (2013)
• Walk to the River (2018) featuring Jenieva, his wife
• 90s Cruiser (2021)

See also

In Spanish: Lou Bega para niños