Hans Bradtke

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Hans Bradtke (born July 21, 1920 in Berlin ; † May 12, 1997 ibid) was a German lyricist , draftsman and caricaturist .

Professional background

After graduating from high school, he first studied architecture at the Technical University of Berlin-Charlottenburg , but after his return from captivity , he turned to work as a press illustrator . When he was commissioned to design sheet music title pages, he came into contact with the music industry in the late 1940s and was soon encouraged to write his first texts (from 1948). Bradtke did not tie himself to any record company, he wrote for his favorite artists such as Cornelia Froboess - Electrola (20 texts) Peter Kraus - Polydor (14), Vico Torriani - Decca (10) or Nana Mouskouri - Fontana (9).

In 1951, Bradtke is said to have written the text Pack 'the swimming trunks in just 15 minutes . The composer Gerhard Froboess wrote a melody for it, and Froboess' seven-year-old daughter Cornelia was found to perform. Together with the Schöneberg Boys' Choir , Conny Froboess, Germany's first real child star, recorded the song on June 26, 1951 in a West Berlin church.

For Vico Torriani he wrote the lyrics to two number one hits, namely seven times a week ( September 1957 ) and Calcutta lies on the Ganges ( July 1960 ). Bill Ramsey took over the text of Pigalle from Bradtke in February 1961 , which also became a number one hit , and subsequently in August 1961 Zuckerpuppe (fifth place on the German charts). In the same month his German text White Roses from Athens for the Hadjidakis composition San Sfirixis Tris Fores with Nana Mouskouri came out, which again landed on the first place and became a million seller . Mouskouri also achieved another top placement with Bradtke's I look for the white clouds , which appeared in April 1962.

His text for Summer Wind , translated into English by Johnny Mercer in 1965 , recorded in German by Grethe Ingmann and then covered in English by Frank Sinatra in 1966 , became a global success. In 1967 Hans Bradtke had another big hit as a lyricist with the song Tammy (Do you hear the south wind whispering to you), which the singer Angela had recorded as a single. This song was also the theme song for the hugely popular and hit television series Tammy, the Houseboat Girl, starring Debbie Watson .

Life and honors

For several years Hans Bradtke was a member of the GEMA supervisory board and looked after the concerns of his colleagues in the committees of GEMA and the GEMA Social Fund. In 1985 the German Lyricists Association awarded him the Golden Pen and made him an honorary member in 1970. On July 16, 1990 he received the Federal Cross of Merit on ribbon. He also received the golden tuning fork and the golden record . He was appointed lighthouse keeper of honor for his commitment to the rescue of the Roter Sand lighthouse .

For over 50 years, until his death, he was married to his wife Renate. With her he has two children and three grandchildren.

Bradtke is buried in the Dahlem forest cemetery . The golden feather, awarded to him in 1985, is depicted on the gravestone.

Texts that were particularly successful

title Interpreter Label year
Seven times a week (# 1) Vico Torriani Decca 1957
Hula baby Peter Kraus Polydor 1958
Havana Love Peter Kraus Polydor 1959
Calcutta lies on the Ganges Vico Torriani Decca 1960
Pigalle Bill Ramsey Polydor 1961
White roses from Athens (No. 1) Nana Mouskouri Fontana 1961
I look after the white clouds (No. 1) Nana Mouskouri Fontana 1962
Garden Gnome March (Adelheid, Adelheid) different artists 1963
You can not forbid that Bernd Spier CBS 1963
Red lips should be kissed (No. 1) Cliff Richard Columbia 1963
Romeo and Juliet Peggy March RCA 1967

Other known texts (selection)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Joseph Murrells, Million Selling Records , 1985, p. 155
  2. ↑ Information from the Office of the Federal President
  3. ^ Hans-Jürgen Mende: Lexicon of Berlin burial places . Pharus-Plan, Berlin 2018, ISBN 978-3-86514-206-1 , p. 578.
personal data
SURNAME Bradtke, Hans
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German lyricist, draftsman and caricaturist
DATE OF BIRTH July 21, 1920
PLACE OF BIRTH Berlin
DATE OF DEATH May 12, 1997
Place of death Berlin