Ralf Bendix

Ralf Bendix (16 August 1924 – 1 September 2014[1]) was a German Schlager singer, music producer, composer and songwriter.

Ralf Bendix
Born
Karl Heinz Schwab

16 August 1924
Dortmund
Died1 September 2014(2014-09-01) (aged 90)
Stansstad-Fürigen, Switzerland
OccupationSchlager singer
Music producer
Composer
Songwriter.

Biography

Early on, Ralf Bendix played the modern music of his time in bands, both as a soldier and in American custody. He began his studies - which he financed as a guitarist at the Jazzkeller venue of Frankfurt - in order to become a lawyer and economist, and graduated in 1952. He was then appointed head of the Düsseldorf office of the Trans World Airlines. He held that position until 1962, although he had been already active as a Schlager singer for seven years.

His artistic career began with a performance as a singer in a regional television show in the American city of Pittsburgh in 1955. In the same year, he was also discovered in a young talent competition for the German music market. His successful performance was rewarded with a recording contract with Paul Kuhn at ELECTROLA. The engagement of the record company quickly paid off, since as soon as June 1956, Ralf Bendix, now his artist's name, was noticed for the first time when the title She was called Mary-Ann - a cover version of Sixteen Tons with German text by Peter Moesser - was recorded and rose to the second place of the German hit singles. In 1958, he played a part along Fred Bertelmann in the music film Der lachende Vagabund in which he performed the hit song Die Sonne von Andalucia.

In addition, Ralf Bendix appeared under the pseudonym "Johnny Guitar" and published a total of four more singles by ELECTROLA.

Altogether, in the following years, 24 of his songs, mostly German versions of Italian and American hits, were placed in the German hit lists. His most successful interpretation was the self - produced German cover of the Babysitter-Boogie, which, after it was issued in April 1961, stayed five weeks in the first place and earned him a Golden Record. The original, Baby Sittin' Boogie, had been issued in the US in January 1961 by Buzz Clifford and received a German text by Joachim Relin. Even the baby voices were newly recorded, Klein-Elisabeth was the daughter of ELECTROLA producer Hans Bertram. With this upbeat tune, he had a lasting success until the year 1964. Ralf Bendix displayed a more serious side of his activity with the germanisation of American Gospel songs and new spiritual songs; His attempt to create a new danse genre with Tumba Tumbala in 1972, however, was not successful. Other activities were more successful: From the end of the 1960s onwards, Ralf Bendix made a name for himself as a producer and talent maker. His discoveries included Heino, who was also produced by Bendix.

After he retired from show business, Ralf Bendix lived in Monaco and Florida and then in Switzerland where he died 1 September 2014 aged 90.[2]

Discography
Main article: Ralf Bendix discography

Hit records (singles)

(Musikmarkt Top 30/50)

IssuedTitlePlaceWeeks
02.06.1956Sie hieß Mary Ann0221
23.06.1956Minne Minne Haha0813
30.11.1957Wo meine Sonne scheint0813
11.01.1958Buona Sera0516
26.04.1958At The Hop1607
14.06.1958Bambina0813
08.11.1958Come prima0517
25.04.1959Trinidad1407
02.05.1959Tschau tschau Bambina1209
28.11.1959Kriminaltango1310
01.10.1960Venus-Walzer2124
04.02.1961Weit von Alaska4104
25.03.1961Babysitter-Boogie0126
20.05.1961Der rote Tango2903
06.01.1962Striptease-Susi0920
10.11.1962Babysitter Twist2908
17.11.1962Die große Nummer wird gemacht2812
02.02.1963Wo ist denn das Kätzchen3007
09.11.1963Der große Treck nach Idaho2708
13.06.1964Schaffe, schaffe Häusle baue1120
05.12.1964Unser Papa hat kein Geld4302
02.12.1967Aber du in deinem Himmelbett3202
21.04.1976Maria Helen1106*

*Airplay Top 50

Films
  • 1958: Der lachende Vagabund
  • 1959: Laß mich am Sonntag nicht allein
  • 1959: Haus Vaterland (Tausend Sterne leuchten)
  • 1961: What Is Father Doing in Italy?
  • 1961: Adieu, Lebewohl, Goodbye

Television
  • 1985: WWF-Club (TV series)
  • 1970: Zwischenmahlzeit (TV series)
  • 1966:–1970 Die Drehscheibe (TV series)
  • 1970: Star Parade (TV series)
  • 1969: Vergißmeinnicht (TV series)
  • 1967–1974: Haifischbar (TV series)
  • 1966: Ab morgen haben wir Humor (TV film)
  • 1966: Musik aus Studio B (TV series)
  • 1966: Der nächste Urlaub kommt bestimmt (TV series)
  • 1965: several appearances in Einer wird gewinnen (EWG, Quiz series)
  • 1965: Vom Ersten das Beste (TV film)
  • 1965: Deutsche Schlagerfestspiele 1965 (TV film)
  • 1965/I Gala 65: (TV film)
  • 1964: Show hin – Schau her (TV film)
  • 1963: Strandgeflüster (TV film)
  • 1962: Deutsche Schlagerfestspiele 1962 (TV film)

References
  1. Artikel im Online-Magazin smago!
  2. Arno Ehring: Heino trauert um seinen Entdecker. In: Express. 7. September 2014 (accessdate 8 November 2016).

Bibliography
  • Frank Laufenberg: Rock & Pop Lexikon. Econ Taschenbuch Verlag 1998, ISBN 3-612-26206-8, Volume 1, p. 127.
  • Günter Ehnert: Hitbilanz Deutsche Chart Singles 1956–1980. Taurus Press 1987, ISBN 3-922542-24-7.
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