German musicians who were born in 1906
Here are 10 famous musicians from Germany were born in 1906:
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Dietrich Bonhoeffer (February 4, 1906 Wrocław-April 9, 1945 Flossenbürg) was a German theologian, pastor and writer.
He is best known for his resistance against the Nazi regime during World War II, which ultimately led to his execution by hanging. Bonhoeffer was part of the Confessing Church, a movement within German Protestantism that opposed Hitler's attempt to centralize control of the church. He was involved in efforts to aid Jews and other oppressed groups, and eventually became involved in a plot to assassinate Hitler. Bonhoeffer's theological writings, which include "The Cost of Discipleship" and "Letters and Papers from Prison," continue to have a profound impact on Christian thought and practice today.
Bonhoeffer was born into a large family of intellectuals, with his father being a psychiatrist and professor of neurology. He studied theology in Berlin and was ordained as a Lutheran pastor in 1931. The rise of the Nazi party greatly troubled Bonhoeffer, and he quickly became involved in the Confessing Church, which was an underground movement of Christians dedicated to resisting Nazi control over the Church.
Bonhoeffer travelled to the United States in 1939 to teach at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, but he ultimately made the difficult decision to return to Germany and join the resistance movement against the Nazis. He was arrested in 1943 and imprisoned for two years, during which time he wrote extensively on Christian faith and persecution.
Bonhoeffer was ultimately executed on April 9, 1945, just weeks before the Allies liberated the camp where he was being held. His legacy lives on as a powerful example of Christian courage and resistance in the face of tyranny, and his theological writings continue to inspire people around the world.
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Franz Biebl
Franz Biebl (September 1, 1906 Germany-October 2, 2001 Munich) also known as Franz Xaver Biebl or Biebl, Franz Xaver was a German , .
composer of classical music and conductor. He is best known for his composition "Ave Maria", which was originally written for a men's choir in 1964. The piece gained international acclaim and has been performed by numerous choirs around the world, including the famous "Chanticleer" vocal ensemble. Biebl studied composition at the State Academy of Music in Munich and later taught there as a professor of choral music. In addition to "Ave Maria," he also composed several other works for choir, including "Ave Maria II," "Cantate Domino," and "Ubi caritas et amor." Despite his successes as a composer, Biebl remained relatively unknown outside of Germany until the 1990s, when his music began to gain wider recognition in the United States.
Biebl served as choirmaster at St. Maria Church in Munich and was also the conductor of the Männerchor der Bayrischen Staatskanzlei. He was awarded numerous honors for his contributions to music, including the Federal Cross of Merit in 1973, the Gregorian Medal for Choral Music in 1996, and the Silver Medal for Services to the City of Munich in 2000. In addition to his work as a composer and conductor, Biebl was a member of the Catholic organization Opus Dei and was known for his strong faith. He passed away in Munich in 2001 at the age of 95, leaving a legacy as one of the most influential composers of choral music in the 20th century.
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Renate Müller
Renate Müller (April 26, 1906 Munich-October 7, 1937 Berlin) a.k.a. Renate Muller was a German singer and actor.
She began her career as a singer and gained popularity in the 1920s with her performances in cabarets and on the radio. Müller made her film debut in 1930 and quickly became one of the most popular actors in German cinema. She was known for her natural acting style and her ability to convey emotion through her performances.
Müller starred in a number of successful films in the early 1930s, including "The Three from the Filling Station" (1930) and "Ich bei Tag und du bei Nacht" (1932). She also had success outside of Germany, appearing in the French film "Mädchen in Uniform" (1931).
Despite her success as an actor, Müller was often unhappy with her roles and longed for more challenging parts. She struggled with depression and alcoholism, and her career began to suffer as a result. Müller's last film was "La Habanera" (1937), in which she played the lead role.
Tragically, Müller took her own life just months after "La Habanera" was released. She was only 31 years old at the time of her death. Despite her brief career, Müller remains a beloved figure in German cinema and her films continue to be appreciated by audiences around the world.
Müller's life and career have been the subject of several films and documentaries. In 1987, German director Michael Verhoeven released a biographical film about Müller titled "Die Weiße Rose" (The White Rose). The film explored Müller's life and her struggles with depression, alcoholism, and the pressures of fame. The title of the film referred to the fact that Müller was a member of the White Rose organization, a resistance group that opposed the Nazi regime in Germany.
In recent years, there has been renewed interest in Müller's work and legacy. In 2014, a commemorative postage stamp was issued in Germany to mark the 80th anniversary of her death. Müller's films continue to be screened at film festivals and repertory theaters around the world, and her performances are celebrated for their naturalism and emotional depth.
Despite her tragic death, Müller's influence on German cinema and culture cannot be overstated. She was a trailblazer for women in the entertainment industry, and her legacy continues to inspire new generations of actors and performers.
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Grete Sultan
Grete Sultan (June 21, 1906 Berlin-June 26, 2005 New York City) was a German pianist.
Discography: The Legacy Volume I: The Historic Piano Recordings 1959-1990.
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Ludwig Suthaus
Ludwig Suthaus (December 12, 1906 Cologne-September 7, 1971 Berlin) was a German singer.
His most recognized albums: .
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William Joyce
William Joyce (April 24, 1906 Brooklyn-January 3, 1946 HM Prison Wandsworth) a.k.a. Lord Haw Haw or Joyce, William was a German politician.
William Joyce was not a German politician, he was a traitor to his own country, the United Kingdom. He became a prominent figure in Nazi propaganda during World War II, broadcasting anti-British messages on German radio under the nickname "Lord Haw Haw". Joyce was born in Brooklyn, New York, but moved to Ireland with his family as a child. He became active in far-right political groups in the UK during the 1930s and eventually fled to Germany after being charged with sedition. He was later captured by British forces and executed for treason. Joyce remains a controversial figure in British history, with some considering him a traitor and others arguing he was simply exercising free speech.
Despite being born in America, William Joyce considered himself to be English and was deeply involved in British politics before defecting to Germany during World War II. He was initially a member of the British Union of Fascists, a far-right political party led by Oswald Mosley. However, Joyce became disillusioned with Mosley and his party and established his own group called the National Socialist League. After fleeing to Germany, Joyce worked for the Nazi propaganda machine, delivering radio broadcasts to British audiences as "Lord Haw Haw." He used these broadcasts to make anti-Semitic and anti-British statements, as well as to spread misinformation about the war. After the war ended, Joyce was apprehended and returned to Britain to face charges of high treason. He was found guilty and hanged in 1946, the last person to be executed for treason in the United Kingdom. Joyce's legacy as a traitor and propagandist remains controversial to this day.
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Gottlob Frick
Gottlob Frick (July 28, 1906 Germany-August 18, 1994 Mühlacker) also known as Frick, Gottlob was a German singer.
Discography: Parsifal, Fidelio and Die Zauberflöte - Highlights (Philharmonia Orchestra feat. conductor: Otto Klemperer).
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Michael Jary
Michael Jary (September 14, 1906 Siemianowice Śląskie-July 12, 1988 Munich) otherwise known as Maximilian Michael Jarczyk, Maximilian Jarczyk, Michael Jarczyk, Jary, Michael, M. Jary, Michael Andreas Jarczyk or Maksymilian Michał Jarczyk was a German composer, film score composer and actor.
Genres he performed: Film score.
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Camilla Spira
Camilla Spira (March 1, 1906 Hamburg-August 25, 1997 Berlin) a.k.a. Camilla Eisner was a German actor. Her child is called Susanne Thaler.
Camilla Spira began her acting career on stage in 1924 and made her film debut in 1927. She appeared in over 80 films, including the critically acclaimed "The Murderers are Among Us" in 1946. In addition to her work in film, she continued to act on stage throughout her career. However, her career was interrupted by the rise of Nazi Germany, as she was Jewish, and she was forced to flee to Switzerland in 1933. She later returned to Germany in 1945 and continued her acting career. Camilla Spira passed away on August 25, 1997, in Berlin, Germany, at the age of 91.
Spira was born in Hamburg to Jewish parents as Camilla Eisner. Her father was a physician, and her mother was an opera singer. She trained at the Max Reinhardt Seminar in Berlin, where she met her future husband, the director Veit Harlan, in 1926. They married in 1933, the same year she left Germany.
During her time in Switzerland, Spira continued to act on stage and in films. She returned to Germany after World War II and resumed her acting career, often working with her husband, who had become a prominent filmmaker in Nazi Germany. Although Harlan's films were controversial due to their propaganda content, he continued to cast Spira in his projects.
Spira was known for her versatility as an actress, playing a range of roles from dramatic to comedic. She was also noted for her striking appearance, with her sharp features and piercing gaze.
In addition to her work as an actress, Spira was also a vocal advocate for refugee rights and was involved in various humanitarian organizations. She was awarded the Order of Merit of Berlin in 1991 for her contributions to the arts and social causes.
Despite the controversies surrounding her husband's films, Spira's own talent as an actress has continued to be recognized and admired by critics and audiences alike.
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Gerhard Winkler
Gerhard Winkler (September 12, 1906 Neukölln-September 25, 1977 Kempten) was a German film score composer, songwriter and composer. He had one child, Hans Andreas Winkler.
Winkler is best known for composing the melody for the evergreen song "Auf Wiederseh'n, Sweetheart", which was recorded by Vera Lynn and became a hit during World War II. He also wrote songs for Marlene Dietrich and Lale Andersen, and composed music for films such as "Melody of a Great City" and "Einmal eine große Dame sein". Winkler studied music in Berlin and Vienna and worked as a musical director at several theaters in Berlin before turning to composition. He received the National Prize of East Germany in 1952 for his contributions to the country's music industry.
In addition to his renowned works in the music industry, Gerhard Winkler also worked as a composer for radio programs and as a conductor for various orchestras. He found success not only in Germany, but also internationally. His composition "Auf Wiederseh'n, Sweetheart" topped the charts in both the UK and US, earning Winkler immense recognition and acclaim. Despite struggling with health problems later in life, he continued to produce music until his death in 1977. Today, he is remembered as one of Germany's most celebrated composers of the mid-20th century.
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