Kurt Edelhagen, born June 5, 1920 in Herne, died February 8, 1982 in Cologn… Read Full Bio ↴Kurt Edelhagen, born June 5, 1920 in Herne, died February 8, 1982 in Cologne, was a major European big band leader throughout the 1950s.
Edelhagen studied clarinet and piano in Essen, after the war in 1945 he formed his first group, they did radio recordings at American Forces Network (AFN) in Frankfurt/Main in 1948. In 1953 Edelhagen took on Caterina Valente as a singer for his Big Band, and together they recorded her first album that same year. In 1957 Kurt Edelhagen moved to radio station Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) in Cologne where he lead the WDR Big Band until his contract ran out in 1972. This Radio Orchestra played at the opening ceremony of the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Over the years Edelhagen did set up his multicultural Big Band, which would include many big names in jazz in Europe, incl. Francy Boland, Charly Antolini, Jiggs Whigham, Claus Ogerman, Jimmy Deuchar, Duško Gojković, Rick Kiefer, Ronnie Stephenson, Gerd Dudek, Wilton Gaynair, Derek Humble, Shake Keane and Tubby Hayes.
Edelhagen studied clarinet and piano in Essen, after the war in 1945 he formed his first group, they did radio recordings at American Forces Network (AFN) in Frankfurt/Main in 1948. In 1953 Edelhagen took on Caterina Valente as a singer for his Big Band, and together they recorded her first album that same year. In 1957 Kurt Edelhagen moved to radio station Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) in Cologne where he lead the WDR Big Band until his contract ran out in 1972. This Radio Orchestra played at the opening ceremony of the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Over the years Edelhagen did set up his multicultural Big Band, which would include many big names in jazz in Europe, incl. Francy Boland, Charly Antolini, Jiggs Whigham, Claus Ogerman, Jimmy Deuchar, Duško Gojković, Rick Kiefer, Ronnie Stephenson, Gerd Dudek, Wilton Gaynair, Derek Humble, Shake Keane and Tubby Hayes.
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Songs of the Olympic Years 1960 (Stereo)
Kurt Edelhagen Lyrics
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