Suche
Germany's jazz king Klaus Doldinger dies at the age of 89
Klaus Doldinger, the legendary jazz musician and composer, died at the age of 89. He had a lasting impact on the German jazz scene.
Germany's jazz king Klaus Doldinger dies at the age of 89
German jazz has lost one of its biggest stars. Klaus Doldinger, the legendary composer and saxophonist, has died at the age of 89. This was confirmed by his wife, who said he fell asleep peacefully on Thursday evening surrounded by his family. Doldinger was born in Berlin on May 12, 1936 and spent his childhood in Vienna, where he experienced the horrors of World War II in 1945. In 1968 he settled near Munich, where he lived until his death.
Doldinger's musical career began in the early 1950s with the Dixie band The Feetwarmers and quickly developed. He founded his first band, The Oskar’s Trio, and toured through around 40 countries for the Goethe-Institut from 1964 onwards. In 1969 he founded the band Motherhood, which was eventually succeeded by the formation of the internationally renowned band Passport in 1971. With Passport, Doldinger made international jazz history and performed over 5,000 performances in half a century, including celebrities such as Udo Lindenberg, who served as Passport's first drummer.
A life full of melodies
Klaus Doldinger was known for his versatile music, which combined jazz with rock, blues, soul and even Latin American rhythms. His impressive career also included composing for film and television productions. The theme song of “Tatort”, which became an evergreen, became particularly popular. His work on film scores for “Das Boot” and “The Neverending Story” also left a lasting impression. Together with Wolfgang Petersen, he created soundtracks that captured the hearts of audiences.
In his autobiography “Made in Germany: My Life for Music,” published in 2022, Doldinger opened the door to his world as a musician and composer. On the occasion of his 85th birthday, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier honored Doldinger as a creative spirit and influential musician who has received numerous awards over the years, including the German Film Prize and the Echo Jazz for his life's work.
Doldinger's legacy in jazz
Doldinger's influence on the German jazz scene cannot be underestimated. The development of jazz in Germany has its own history, shaped by interactions with the international scene, the war and the post-war period. The roots of jazz in Germany go back to the 1920s, when the style became popular in this country. After difficult years under National Socialism and in the GDR, jazz made a comeback in the American occupied zones after the Second World War, which had a decisive influence on Doldinger's career.
Doldinger's music will continue to inspire new generations of musicians and jazz lovers. His legacy lives on in the sounds he created and in the wailing melody of his saxophone. Another chapter in the exciting history of jazz in Germany is coming to an end, but Klaus Doldinger's melodies will continue to accompany us.