German singer-songwriter and poet Till Lindemann is best-recognised as the lead vocalist and lyricist of the German heavy-metal band Rammstein and for the musical project Lindemann that he fronted. Roadrunner Records listed him among "50 Greatest Metal Frontmen of All Time". He has also published two books of poetry, In stillen Nächten and Messer, and featured in minor roles in movies.
German model, dancer, and singer, Rob Pilatus, was a member of the pop music duo, Milli Vanilli, with Fabrice Morvan. As an interracial child growing up in Munich, he had a difficult childhood. He began working as a model as a teenager and soon ventured into music. He struggled with substance abuse and died at the age of 32.
Klaus Meine is a German singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist. He is best known as the lead singer of the heavy metal band Scorpions. He wrote or co-wrote most of the songs released by the band. During the peak of his career, he temporarily lost his voice due to a medical condition but was able to make a comeback.
Lou Bega became an overnight sensation with the 1999 international chartbuster Mambo No. 5, based on Pérez Prado's 1949 original. Born in Germany, Lou was the son of a Ugandan father and a Sicilian mother. Initially inspired by rap and R&B, he deviated to mambo music after a trip to Miami.
German record producer Frank Farian founded iconic pop groups such as Boney M. and No Mercy. He was accused of showcasing attractive dancers as members of Milli Vanilli, while others had actually sung the songs. He has also been associated with groups such as La Bouche and Eruption.
Thomas Anders is a German singer and songwriter. He gained prominence as the lead singer of the German duo Modern Talking. He developed an early love for music and began his career when he was a teenager. Despite being talented, he struggled for a few years before he could make it big in the music scene.
Klaus Nomi was a German countertenor with a wide vocal range. He wore heavy makeup, unusual costumes, and a highly stylized signature hairdo. He had an otherworldly stage persona that was unique to him. His music was also considered unusual. He suffered from AIDS and was one of the earliest musicians known to die of the illness.
Two-time Tony-nominated actor Samuel E. Wright is best known for his performances in The Lion King and The Tap Dance Kid. Fans also know him as the voice of Sebastian in The Little Mermaid, and his track Under the Sea, from the movie, won an Academy Award.
John Kay is a German-born Canadian singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He is credited with co-forming the popular American rock band Steppenwolf for which he served as the lead vocalist. He is also credited with contributing immensely to the success of the band. In 2004, he was inducted into the Canada's Walk of Fame.
German singer/songwriter Dieter Bohlen redefined the Eurobeat in the 1980s and is also known as the Pop-Titan. He formed the duo Modern Talking with Thomas Anders, creating international superhits such as Brother Louie. He later went solo as Blue System, releasing hits such as Gangster Love, before rejoining Modern Talking.
German opera tenor Jonas Kaufmann is best known for his versatility. Born to music lover parents, he grew up listening to his father’s collection of classical music. Dropping out of a math course in university, he opted for music instead. He is best known for his performance in Don Carlos.
Rapper Shelley Marshaun Massenburg-Smith, better known as D.R.A.M., is best known for his Billboard-charting singles such as Broccoli. He has collaborated with artists such as Gorillaz and Erykah Badu. He has also voiced Wallace in Lazor Wulf and now uses his original name, Shelley, instead of his pseudonym, D.R.A.M.
Herbert Grönemeyer is a musician, singer, composer, producer, and actor. After appearing as Lieutenant Werner in the popular West German war film Das Boot, Grönemeyer went on to focus on his musical career. Over a period of time, Grönemeyer became one of the most successful German musicians of all time, having sold more than 13 million copies of his albums.
Apart from being a rabbi, Shlomo Carlebach, or Reb Shlomo, mesmerized people with his musical talent. “The singing rabbi,” known for his Hasidic-style songs, was also associated with the Baal teshuva movement. Following his death, scores of women accused him of sexual harassment. He also inspired the musical Soul Doctor.