The musician, whose real name was Hans Bloom, died on Friday at the age of 95, his record company announced.
German pop singer and composer Henry Valentino (“Im Wagen vor mir”) has died. The musician, whose real name was Hans Bloom, died on Friday at the age of 95, his record company announced. “A long life marked by joy and impressive creativity has come to an end,” his family said on Monday.
Valentino alias Blum died at home “the way he wanted”: “at night and completely quietly.” Valentino became particularly famous for his 1977 hit “Im Wagen vor mir” with his duet partner Uchi. The refrain “Rada radada radadatada, radada radada radadatada” quickly became a catchy tune.
The composer was actually a man behind the hit industry – as a composer. The list of artists for whom he has written songs is long – from Howard Carpentale (“The Beautiful Girl From Page One”) to Wenke Myhre (“Don't Bite Every Apple”) to Hildegard Neef (“The Old Wolf”). His songs entered the Grand Prix Eurovision de la Chanson four times. Valentino was at its peak in the 60s and 70s.
Bloom told a German magazine on her 90th birthday that she didn't really want to be famous. The fictional character Henry Valentino was created when he couldn't sell a song to a record company. From then on, Hans Blum called himself Henry Valentino, put on a hat, wore a wide mustache and sang to himself – in disguise, in a loud voice. When he spoke casually, he actually had a very clear, soft tone. Lived in Overham near Cologne. He was born in Hanover. (APA/dpa)
