Ralf Bendix


Karl Heinz Schwab, known professionally as Ralf Bendix, was a German Schlager singer, music producer, composer and songwriter.

Biography

Early on, Ralf Bendix played the modern music of his time in bands, both as a soldier and in American custody. He began his studies - which he financed as a guitarist at the venue of Frankfurt - in order to become a lawyer and economist, and graduated in 1952. He was then appointed head of the Düsseldorf office of Trans World Airlines. He held that position until 1962, although he had been already active as a Schlager singer for seven years.
His artistic career began with a performance as a singer in a regional television show in the American city of Pittsburgh in 1955. In the same year, he was also discovered in a young talent competition for the German music market. His successful performance was rewarded with a recording contract with Paul Kuhn at Electrola. The engagement of the record company quickly paid off, when in June 1956, Ralf Bendix, now confirmed as his stage name, was noticed for the first time when the title "She was called Mary-Ann" - a cover version of "Sixteen Tons" with German text by - was recorded and rose to the second place of the German hit singles chart. In 1958, he played a part along Fred Bertelmann in the music film in which he performed the hit song "Die Sonne von Andalucia".
In addition, Ralf Bendix appeared under the pseudonym "Johnny Guitar" and published a total of four more singles on Electrola.
Altogether, in the following years, 24 of his songs, mostly German versions of Italian and American hits, were placed in the German hit lists. His most successful interpretation was the self - produced German cover of the "Babysitter-Boogie", which, after it was issued in April 1961, stayed five weeks at No. 1, and earned him a Golden Record. The original, "Baby Sittin' Boogie", had been issued in the US in January 1961 by Buzz Clifford and received a German text by. Even the baby voices were newly recorded, "Klein Elisabeth" being the daughter of Electrola producer Hans Bertram. With this upbeat tune, he had a lasting success until 1964. Ralf Bendix displayed a more serious side of his activity with the Germanisation of American gospel songs and new spiritual songs; His attempt to create a new dance genre with "Tumba Tumbala" in 1972, however, was not successful. Other activities were more successful: From the end of the 1960s onwards, Ralf Bendix made a name for himself as a producer and talent maker. His discoveries included Heino, who was also produced by Bendix.
After he retired from show business, Ralf Bendix lived in Monaco and Florida and then in Switzerland, where he died on 1 September 2014 aged 90.

Hit records (singles)

IssuedTitlePlaceWeeks
02.06.1956"Sie hieß Mary Ann"221
23.06.1956"Minne Minne Haha"813
30.11.1957"Wo meine Sonne scheint"813
11.01.1958"Buona Sera"516
26.04.1958"At The Hop"167
14.06.1958"Bambina"813
08.11.1958"Come prima"517
25.04.1959"Trinidad"147
02.05.1959"Tschau tschau Bambina"129
28.11.1959"Kriminaltango"1310
01.10.1960"Venus-Walzer"2124
04.02.1961"Weit von Alaska"414
25.03.1961"Babysitter-Boogie"126
20.05.1961"Der rote Tango"293
06.01.1962"Striptease-Susi"920
10.11.1962"Babysitter Twist"298
17.11.1962"Die große Nummer wird gemacht"2812
02.02.1963"Wo ist denn das Kätzchen"307
09.11.1963"Der große Treck nach Idaho"278
13.06.1964"Schaffe, schaffe Häusle baue"1120
05.12.1964"Unser Papa hat kein Geld"432
02.12.1967"Aber du in deinem Himmelbett"322
21.04.1976"Maria Helen"116*

*Airplay Top 50

Films

Television

  • 1985: WWF-Club
  • 1970: '
  • 1966:–1970 Die Drehscheibe
  • 1970: Star Parade
  • 1969: '
  • 1967–1974: Haifischbar
  • 1966: Ab morgen haben wir Humor
  • 1966: '
  • 1966: Der nächste Urlaub kommt bestimmt
  • 1965: several appearances in '
  • 1965: Vom Ersten das Beste
  • 1965: Deutsche Schlagerfestspiele 1965
  • 1965: Gala 65
  • 1964: Show hin – Schau her
  • 1963: Strandgeflüster
  • 1962: ''Deutsche Schlagerfestspiele 1962''