Born in Zeitz, Saxony, he showed musical proficiency at an early age. He played in his grandfather’s band in a restaurant when he was six, and by his teens he was accomplished at playing piano, accordion, xylophone and marimba. He studied music at the Leipzig Conservatory.
He served in the German army during World War 2, but was captured by the British. During his captivity in a Danish POW camp, he met a guitarist named Ladi Geisler, with whom he soon formed a small combo. After the war, he led various combos (which usually included Geisler)in The Salambo Night Club from René Durand & The Tarantella Night Club near the famous Reeperbahn. Horst also played with British Service musicians and Big Bands like Edmundo Ros. Settling in Hamburg, he became part of the burgeoning music scene in the port city. Signed to the Polydor label in the 1950s, he made accordion and dance band music under his own name. He also began to make Latin music recordings under the pseudonym of Roberto Delgado & Mister Pepper. The Delgado albums became popular in Europe, and then found an audience in the UK and North America as Polydor opened up several international subsidiaries. Polydor already had two top pop orchestra stars in Bert Kaempfert and James Last, and many of their fans began to buy Delgado records as well. It’s interesting to note that Wende recorded his albums using the same group of studio musicians who recorded for Kaempfert and Last; in fact, guitarist Ladi Geisler also provided the distinct bass guitar backbone to the Kaempfert sound.
The Delgado recordings were initially Latin-oriented, but they eventually covered a number of different musical genres including African, Italian, Russian, Greek and Jamaican music as well as Broadway musicals and current pop hits. It could be argued that Wende/Delgado helped to pioneer world music. He managed to break into the German singles market with his version of “Mexico” in 1962. He also arranged music for other German artists such as German folk/pop singer Knut Kiesewetter.
Like most of his pop orchestral contemporaries, Wende’s popularity had faded by the 1980s, and he gradually retired from playing music professionally. In recent years, his music has become popular again, and some of his recordings have been reissued on CD.
Moonglow
Roberto Delgado Lyrics
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It must have been moonglow that led me straight to you
I still hear you sayin', "Dear one, hold me fast"
And I keep on prayin', "Oh Lord, please let this last"
We seemed to float right through the air
Heavenly songs seemed to come from everywhere
I'll always remember, that moonglow gave me you
It must have been moonglow, way up in the blue
It must have been moonglow that led me straight to you
I still hear you sayin', "Sweet child, hold me fast"
And I keep on prayin', "Oh Lord, please let this last"
We seemed to float right through the air
Heavenly songs seemed to come from everywhere
And now when there's moonglow, way up in the blue
I'll always remember, that moonglow gave me you
The lyrics of Roberto Delgado's "Moonglow" describe the powerful and transformative feeling of love, as symbolized by the bright, mystical light of the moon. The singer reflects on falling in love, evoking the feeling that it was simply destiny that brought the two lovers together. The moon serves as a guiding force, leading the singer to their beloved. The line "I still hear you sayin', "Dear one, hold me fast"" denotes the strong emotional connection shared by the couple, emphasizing the singer's desire for this magical moment to last forever.
The song's second verse reinforces the idea that the couple is in a dream-like state, floating through the air, and surrounded by heavenly music. The lines "Heavenly songs seemed to come from everywhere" suggest that the power of their love has sent them to an entirely different realm, where they are unencumbered by the world's troubles. The repetition of the chorus in the final verse serves to reiterate the vital role of the moon in bringing the two lovers together, and how the singer will always remember the moment as a turning point in their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
It must have been moonglow, way up in the blue
I believe that it was the bright shining of the moon high in the sky that guided me towards you
It must have been moonglow that led me straight to you
The moon's light acted as a beacon and directed me towards you
I still hear you sayin', "Dear one, hold me fast"
I can still hear your voice reassuring me to hold you tightly
And I keep on prayin', "Oh Lord, please let this last"
I keep pleading with the heavens for this moment to continue and not come to an end
We seemed to float right through the air
It felt like we were effortlessly gliding through the sky
Heavenly songs seemed to come from everywhere
I heard beautiful harmonies and melodies seemingly coming from all around us
And now when there's moonglow, way up in the blue
Whenever I see the moon's shining light high in the sky
I'll always remember, that moonglow gave me you
I will always remember that the moon's light guided me to you and brought us together
I still hear you sayin', "Sweet child, hold me fast"
I can still hear your voice soothingly asking me to hold you tightly
And I keep on prayin', "Oh Lord, please let this last"
I continue to implore the divine for this moment to continue without end
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Eddie Delange, Irving Mills, Will Hudson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind