James Last (Hans Last, * April 17, 1929 in Bremen, † June, 9, 2015 in Flori… Read Full Bio ↴James Last (Hans Last, * April 17, 1929 in Bremen, † June, 9, 2015 in Florida) was a German composer and big band leader with a large fan base in Europe and world-wide. Last's trademark was arranging pop hits in a big-band style; his series of "party albums" is equally well-known. Over the course of his career, he has sold well over 100 million albums.
Last learned how to play piano as child, switching to bass as a teenager. He joined Hans-Gunther Oesterreich's Radio Bremen Dance Orchestra in 1946, when he was 17 years old. In 1948, he became the leader of the Becker-Last Ensemble, which performed for seven years. During that time, he was voted as the best bassist in the country by a German jazz poll for three consecutive years, from 1950-1952. After the disbandment of the Becker-Last Ensemble, he became the in-house arranger for Polydor Records, as well as for a number of European radio stations. For the next decade, he helped arrange hits for artists like Helmut Zacharias and Caterina Valente.
Last released his first album "Non-Stop Dancing" in 1965. The record of brief renditions of popular songs, all tied together by an insistent dance beat and joyous crowd noises. It was a hit and helped make him a major European star. Over the next four decades, Last has released over 190 records, including several more volumes of Non-Stop Dancing. On these records, he varies his formula by adding different songs from different countries and genres, as well as guest performers like Richard Clayderman and Astrud Gilberto.
Though his concerts and albums are consistently successful — especially in England, where he had 52 hit albums between 1967-1986, which made him second to Elvis Presley in terms of number of charting records — he has only had two hit singles with "The Seduction," the theme from American Gigolo (1980) and Biscaya from the album "Biscaya".
He has won numerous polls and prizes, for example Billboard magazine's "Star of the year" trophy in 1976, and has been honored for his lifework with the German ECHO prize in 1994.
The song "The Lonely Shepherd", written by Last and performed by Gheorghe Zamfir and the James Last Orchestra, was featured in the soundtrack to Quentin Tarantino's film "Kill Bill Vol. 1" (2003).
Personally, he divides his time between Florida and Germany. He gives much credit to his wife and son, who helps with the music.
Last learned how to play piano as child, switching to bass as a teenager. He joined Hans-Gunther Oesterreich's Radio Bremen Dance Orchestra in 1946, when he was 17 years old. In 1948, he became the leader of the Becker-Last Ensemble, which performed for seven years. During that time, he was voted as the best bassist in the country by a German jazz poll for three consecutive years, from 1950-1952. After the disbandment of the Becker-Last Ensemble, he became the in-house arranger for Polydor Records, as well as for a number of European radio stations. For the next decade, he helped arrange hits for artists like Helmut Zacharias and Caterina Valente.
Last released his first album "Non-Stop Dancing" in 1965. The record of brief renditions of popular songs, all tied together by an insistent dance beat and joyous crowd noises. It was a hit and helped make him a major European star. Over the next four decades, Last has released over 190 records, including several more volumes of Non-Stop Dancing. On these records, he varies his formula by adding different songs from different countries and genres, as well as guest performers like Richard Clayderman and Astrud Gilberto.
Though his concerts and albums are consistently successful — especially in England, where he had 52 hit albums between 1967-1986, which made him second to Elvis Presley in terms of number of charting records — he has only had two hit singles with "The Seduction," the theme from American Gigolo (1980) and Biscaya from the album "Biscaya".
He has won numerous polls and prizes, for example Billboard magazine's "Star of the year" trophy in 1976, and has been honored for his lifework with the German ECHO prize in 1994.
The song "The Lonely Shepherd", written by Last and performed by Gheorghe Zamfir and the James Last Orchestra, was featured in the soundtrack to Quentin Tarantino's film "Kill Bill Vol. 1" (2003).
Personally, he divides his time between Florida and Germany. He gives much credit to his wife and son, who helps with the music.
Orange Blossom Special
James Last Lyrics
Instrumental
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Ivga Cybo
Это жизненно-потрясающе!
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Браво-брависсимо!
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Джеймс Ласт жив в своей музыке, и это прекрасно, ведь музыка вечна!
🎻🎵🎺🎶🎷🎹🎸🕊️🙏🏻❤️
Всем, у кого в душе всегда звучит музыка, здоровья, мира, добра, Любви, благости, гармонии, счастья!
Храни всех Бог!
❤️🙏🏻🌹🤗🕊️🌞🌈😘
Boyce T
Dear God.....I do LOVE the Orange Blossom Special. This is THE best rendition of it I have EVER heard!!!
John Newcomb
Combo of bluegrass, Western swing .it's great
Plunkerville R/R
Billy Vaughn`s was better 1960 .
Paulo Sr Fagundes
@John Newcomb iiljobj
Guillaume2606
@Plunkerville R/R That's a personal opinion! I think James Last was far better!
Red 94MR2
@Plunkerville R/R I agree with you, I think Billy Vaughn's 1961 arrangement and execution was better. I like Vaughn's inclusion of guitar solo's as opposed to Last's brass section even though I play the trumpet. And why the silly horse whinnies in a railroad song about a train that ran from NYC to Miami? Imitation of train whistle, you betcha. A horse whiny? Might as well include pig oinks to go with it.
Diane B.
It's wonderful to see people of all ages enjoying this music!
RIP, James Last. Thank you.
Allen Barnett
Diane Bright R .I.P JAMES GOD BLESS YOU STARTED WATHING JAMES AT Bellvue Manchester Kings Hall he was a Gent had lots of time for is fans Will miss him very Sad lose
Ennio 0 rh -
James Last great director,great men.
Günni us Kölle
... ein Beweis dafür, dass Musik alle Altersklassen vereint ... 🙂