Freddy Breck born 21 January 1942

Freddy Breck (Gerhard Brecker; 21 January 1942,Sonneberg, Thuringia – 17 December 2008, Rottach-Egern, Upper Bavaria) was a German schlager singer, composer, record producer, and news presenter.

He grew up in Hagen, and studied to be a machinist, then studied singing under Heinz Gietz. He sang schlager songs which were based on well-known classical melodies. His first success was "Überall auf der Welt", based on Va, pensiero from Giuseppe Verdi's Nabucco. This he recorded in English as "We Believe In Tomorrow" and released it as a single in late 1972 - it topped the South African Charts in early 1973. The title brought Breck the first gold record.  It was followed by numerous other successes, the best known are his 1973 hits “Bianca” and “Rote Rosen (Red Rose).”

 

Breck records appeared in Japan, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Scandinavia, Portugal, Spain, Italy, France, Benelux and the United Kingdom.  “We believe in

 

Tomorrow”, the English version of Around the world was in the South African Charts for 25 weeks in 1973.

In 1974 Breck released a single in the UK “So in Love with You”, which reached number 44 on the charts.  He also had great success in the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark.  In Germany in 1977 he had his last hit in the charts which was followed by only isolated success in the airplay charts. In 1978, he issued an English language disc.

In the 1980s, he devoted himself more to composing.  He wrote, among other things for the original Naabtal Duo, the Kastelruther Spatzen and Nina & Mike.  He also worked as a news presenter for various stations.

He founded his own record label, Sun Day Records, with his wife Astrid in 1998, and in 1999 they released music as a duo, Astrid & Freddy Breck.

Freddy Breck received during his lifetime 35 Golden and 5 platinum records, Golden Lion, Golden Camera Awards, Golden Barrel organs, Hermann-Löns-medal, 2x Salzburger Stier in Gold and the Euro Star in Gold.

 Gerhard Breker aka Freddy Breck died in December 2008 of lung cancer at his home on the Tegernsee and was buried in the new church graveyard in Rottach-Egern. (Info edited from mainly Wikipedia & Chartsurfer.de. and translated items.)