Katja Ebstein

Katja Ebstein ( born March 9, 1945 in Girlachsdorf, Lower Silesia, born Ilse Karin Witkiewicz, real name Karin Ilse Everywhere ) is a German singer and actress. She has released more than 30 albums in the areas of pop, pop, chanson, cabaret and musicals.

Life

Ebstein grew up in West Berlin. After high school she studied archeology and Romance. In the jazz and singer-songwriter scene, she sang sometimes in students' and artists pubs. 1964 committed the Sender Freies Berlin Katja Ebstein along with three accompanying musicians, including Bodo von Greiff, for the ARD program jam pot. In the Grouping The Kreuzberg she sang the Spanish Fandango de Huelva. The famous Berlin composer and producer Heino Gaze became aware of them. After they had shown themselves to background vocals on his productions, he produced their first two singles under the artist name " Katja ", but were unsuccessful ( Somewhere, Somehow, 1965; Where is the ship, 1966). Also in 1966 she took, also with limited success, at the Song Festival in the Belgian part of Knokke and therefore was initially limited to background vocals for other productions and smaller gigs.

Even through gauze around 1967 she learned the composers, producers, and its subsequent partner and first husband Christian Bruhn know who accompanied their productions from now on. At the festival Chanson Folklore International at Castle Waldeck in the Hunsrück she met Siegfried Loch, the then head of Germany U.S. record label Liberty / United Artists who was looking for new talent for the international market. He allowed her to conclude a fixed contract with Liberty / United Artists Records, based in Munich.

After initial successes with the first two singles The wire in the sun ... and when the rain descends, and her first television appearance as " Katja Ebstein " in April 1969 in the show Sing and swing - An Evening with international guest stars who appeared in the fall of 1969 the first LP Katja, especially promoted by the youth magazine Twen and by Truck Branss, the maker of the ZDF hit parade, produced television portrait Katja - the voice, however, the broadcast only in 1970 after taking part in the preliminary round of the Grand Prix euro Vision song Contest been. In late autumn 1969, she sang "What are the dreams of a Christmas tree in May, " the German original soundtrack of the title "Do You Know How Christmas Trees Are Grown? " The singer Nina from the James Bond film On Her Majesty and was with the associated single A-side " Why is the world so beautiful," the first time more frequently on German television presence.

The 1970s and 1980s

On February 16, 1970 Katja Ebstein won the preliminary decision with the German composed by Christian Bruhn and texted by Günther Loose wonder there are always thus reaching the Euro Vision Festival in Amsterdam to third place. This contest was the start of Ebsteins international career. Her songs published worldwide in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Japanese. Took two more times Katja Ebstein part in the Grand Prix Euro Vision Song Contest. The title for the competition in 1971 in Dublin, This world, composed Dieter Zimmermann, the text came from Fred Jay. The Environmental song they again reached the third place. In their third and final part in 1980 with theater, written by Ralph Siegel and Bernd Meinunger, they took second place. These two titles were evergreens in Germany and came world in different languages ​​on the market. Because of their earnings to the Grand Prix, she hosted the preliminary decision in 1981 and was frequently a welcome musical guest and conversation in various Grand- Prix - related programs.

Also in 1970, she was elected to the International Song Festival in Rio de Janeiro for the best singer. A tour with the James Last Orchestra joined September to November 1970, more touring - including with the Orchestra Paul Kuhn - by the former Soviet Union followed in the years that followed, in which Ebstein with titles like And when a new day awakens, a little song about peace, the star of Mykonos or an Indian boy from Peru in Germany became one of the most successful German pop singers. In 1972, she first appeared in the GDR in the show A Colorful boiler.

The music industry honored her meanwhile with numerous awards: "Best Singer " at the International Song Festival in Rio de Janeiro, most popular foreign singer in Spain, she received in Italy the rose of Rome - but also in Germany, she was honored several times, was, among other she twice won the " Goldene Europa " and received the Golden Tuning Fork, the Lale Andersen later and the Fred Jay Price.

In 1975, she published together with the Heinrich -Heine- Heine society a cycle in the setting by Christian Bruhn (Katja Ebstein sings Heinrich Heine, EMI Electrola ). Even after her divorce from Christian Bruhn in 1976 they gave the record companies still several successes (for example, There was once a hunter, 1974, and the half of his life, 1975), but focused also on lyrically sophisticated titles, famous musical melodies (for example, 1977 Do not cry for me, Argentina from the musical Evita ) and cabaret with couplets include in their repertoire. To appear 1978 LP So wat as ick'm et ... can only be from Berlin. These songs are still to Katja Ebsteins concert programs.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Katja Ebstein was also a guest in many broadcasts on German television, in particular, they looked at many issues of program series ZDF hit parade, Disco, Music from Studio B, Star Parade, music is the key, Dalli Dalli, etc. with. Regular performances in relevant talk shows, where Ebstein on social and political themes related position include, to date is her work as the presentation of music.

Among the high times on the German pop Katja Ebstein presented regularly own music shows. The most important are Katja - The Voice (1970 ), Katja & Co. (1976 ), free house concert (1980 ) This is my milieu (1981) and My name is Katja (1982). The GDR radio transferred its live concerts in East Berlin both in 1983 as well as 1986 and 1987 In addition to her numerous personality shows were dedicated. ; often they also took over as foreign moderations for music from Studio B or moderated anniversary broadcasts for many years colleagues like Paul Kuhn.

Appearances as an actress

The director and writer Klaus Everywhere, whom she married in 1979, she deployed to the early 1980s, her acting talent. Everywhere staged in 1980 her first play at Hamburg's Ernst- German theater: The Blue Angel, the title role was played by the director of the theater Friedrich Schütter. Katja Ebstein took over the role of Rosa Fröhlich, the blue angel in this piece. In the coming years followed by many other theater engagements, from the Paramour in everyone through to Pirate Jenny in Brecht's Threepenny Opera. In the musicals Chicago, Sweet Charity and 1993 Victor and Victoria, she played supporting roles. Finally she gave in the Holocaust drama Ghetto by Joshua Sobol, the Haya at the Staatstheater Meiningen.

In between television series were produced for ARD: 1984 13 episodes of the series the way in the GDR, which was also broadcast on East German television with great success and was therefore 1986/87 extended for another 26 episodes, and 1989, 20 episodes of the series Friedrichstadt Palace, in Katja was seen in addition to known East and West German actors.

The musical work went on. In 1986, she presented with man, tell ' Just Na and the song of the TV lottery. The comeback win fell short of expectations and so was published in 1987 for the time being their last single production called Lach not get me out.

Occasionally, they also took over the vocal parts in German film dubbed versions, so about 1977 for Helen Reddy in Pete's Dragon or 1988 for Bette Midler in Oliver & Company. Added to this were German sung theme songs for various international children's animated series in the 1970s, about for Niklaas, a boy from Flanders and Perrine.

As of 1990, Katja Ebstein literary genre turned to reinforced. After a successful woman lyric production together with Lutz Gorner, who went as a stage show on tour, solo programs followed as champions works by Annette von Droste- Hulshoff, Beat the drum and do not be afraid with pieces of Heinrich Heine and Brecht -Heine- comparison drummer without fear. The successor program despite Berlin ... and all that! is a German lesson the example of Berlin with lyrics by Kurt Tucholsky to Konstantin Wecker. By 1996 or 1999, these programs have been released on CD.

In the 1990s, the German Schlager celebrated a revival. In addition to her literary and committed performances Katja Ebstein was always in music programs as a guest to present their older hits. As a result, repeatedly CD compilations published with their titles from the 1970s and 1980s. Aside from literary publications, it was only in 1994 a single trip into the pop music. The album Ebstein and the associated single Just one look (With one look) included world-famous musical themes in German language.

Katja Ebstein in the 2000s

Together with the WDR Symphony Orchestra Chamber led Ebstein 2001 The Soldier's Tale by Igor Stravinsky on. There was a pre-Christmas program, it falls down a star ... with texts by Robert Gernhardt, Georg Kreisler, Heinrich Heine, Erich Kästner, Hanns Dieter Hüsch and Loriot. With this program it is still every year in Germany go. As with the previous literature programs was also a star It falls down ... by Klaus everywhere together and staged.

Katja Ebstein in 2003 was the star guest at the major event of the controversial alternative medicine, Matthias Rath Tempodrom in Berlin.

In 2005, Katja Ebstein celebrated its 40th anniversary as a singer. On this occasion the album was Witkiewicz (Single Title: In this country ) produced. For the realization of this project contributed among other things Pe Werner, Xavier Naidoo and other composers and lyricists. With a band under the direction of Dieter Falk she went with these new and their personal favorite tracks on "Anniversary Tour", which will continue throughout Germany since 2006 under the title The Sound of Music.

In May and June 2007, she was seen in the second season of RTL - dance show Let's Dance on TV and finally finished in second place in this competition with her professional dance partner Oliver Seefeldt.

Since autumn 2007, Katja Ebstein accepts president of the jury of the Stuttgart Chanson Festival, which takes place annually in the local hotel Le Meridien. In spring 2008, she was seen then - also committed to the next generation of musicians - often on television, including the Euro Vision Song Contest preliminary decision in 2008, where they guest star was not only due to their contributions to the Grand Prix, but at the same time as the " godmother" newcomer Carolin Fort Bacher acted. In March and April 2008, she appeared on the jury of the program ZDF show Musical show star in 2008 and elected together with Uwe Kröger and Alexander Goebel two future performers for the musical Starlight Express from.

On 7 January 2008 gave the Federal President Horst Köhler Katja Ebstein for her social and artistic commitment, the Order of Merit of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, which was presented to her on April 7, 2008 by Bavaria's Minister President Günther Beck stone in Munich.

In April 2008, she celebrated with the new stage show so what? We're still alive! That her husband Klaus has written for them everywhere, in the North Rhine -Westphalian Dülmen premiere. This program uses essentially the songs of the album Hey, you, as of 1980, but also incorporates current political and social issues as well as new pieces.

Despite Überalls lung disease that this only a few months made ​​public after the diagnosis, she did some performances with concert this evening and was for her foundation on the go. October 29, 2008 Klaus succumbed to the disease everywhere. For the first time in the spring of 2009, she talked about it in an interview with the Berlin local station TV Berlin.

Katja Ebstein continues with her ​​solo programs and has traveled occasional appearances on German television.

2011 celebrates Katja Ebstein a comeback with the cover version of wonder there are always together with the German rapper Joka. This version was originally produced for the September 6, 2011 broadcast on VOX second episode of music documentary Cover my Song. Due to the great success the end of 2011, a music video was produced. Wonder there are always of Joka feat. Katja Ebstein spent several weeks at No. 1 on the German hip-hop download chart.

In the 17 February 2012 broadcast RTL show The Ultimate Chart Show under the slogan " The most successful German singers ", which placed all the performers due to the most and most successful hits in the German charts, Ebstein landed in 12th place

Political and social commitment

Katja Ebstein was in the student movement of the 1960s actively supported the campaign trail in 1972, Willy Brandt, in the 1980s, the West German peace movement and is now a member of Attac. In 2003, she appeared together with Konstantin Wecker on a demonstration against the Iraq war. In 2012 she was among the signatories of the " coalition of resistance", a drafted by Mikis Theodorakis, Tony Benn and Manolis Glezos " Common Appeal for the Rescue of the people of Europe." In the federal election campaign in 2013 Ebstein campaigned for the election of the party Die Linke.

Since 1992, Ebstein allows children from socially disadvantaged families stays on the North Sea island Amrum. From this private initiative, the association " action environment for children and environmentally damaged young people " was born. The aim of the association are health, improved future opportunities and training for children and adolescents. 2004 " Katja Ebstein - Foundation " with the patron Ingrid Stolpe, is founded as a crosslinking site for many initiatives that fight child poverty in Germany. In January 2008, she presented at the opening dance tournament the first Bundesliga Latin together with the North Rhine -Westphalian Family Minister Armin Laschet inspired by their participation in the RTL show Let's Dance Project " Dancing builds bridges - healing dance " of Katja Ebstein Foundation ago. In autumn 2008, Katja Ebstein founded together with the board of Katja Ebstein - Foundation in Munich future cooperation with Giovane Elber - Foundation, which works primarily for Brazilian street children.

For 15 years, Ebstein 's project supervisor for the village development in Mali in the Sahel as "helping people to help themselves." With Welthungerhilfe Katja Ebstein supports the construction of small houses for those in the Peruvian highlands living below the poverty line. There are also sponsorships for orphans from the highland regions are taught to be integrated into families living there.

In addition, Ebstein is one founded by Inge Brück association " Artists for Christ " and occurs as such to worship in musical charity for persecuted Christians.

Awards

Literary works

• Katja Ebstein: To work for a culture of peace. In: Hans -Joachim Girock (ed.): A dream of a church. Do we need another Christianity? Source, Stuttgart 1988, ISBN 3-7918-1406-0, pp. 44-54
• Katja Ebstein (ed.): masters works. Owls, Freiburg 1996, ISBN 3-89102-244-1
• Katja Ebstein (ed.): Beat the drum and do not be afraid! Poems and songs of Heinrich Heine. Owls, Freiburg 1996, ISBN 3-89102-245- X
• Katja Ebstein: On the Art of Life. In: Now I know what I want. Women tell about 50. Egmont vgs, Cologne 2004, ISBN 3-8025-1644-3, pp. 66-75
• Katja Ebstein: Beat the drum and do not be afraid. In: Wolfgang Bittner, Mark of the court (eds.): True Stories. I mix one myself. Striking German resumes. Horlemann, Bad Honnef 2006, ISBN 3-89502-222-5, pp. 27-36

Albums

• Katja ( Liberty 1969)
• Wonder there are always ( Liberty 1970)
• My life is like a song ( Liberty 1970)
• Friends ( United Artists 1971)
• Katja Ebstein en español ( United Artists 1971) ( in Germany unpublished)
• We live - we love ( United Artists 1972)
• Katja ( United Artists, 1973)
• An Indian boy from Peru / And your train goes in 5 minutes (1973 )
• (Unpublished in Germany ) The star of Mykonos ( United Artists 1974)
• Le soleil de Mykonos ( United Artists 1974) ( in Germany unpublished)
• What ... I still wanted to sing ( United Artists 1974)
• Wild roses and other dreams (EMI Electrola 1974)
• Katja Ebstein sings Heinrich Heine ( EMI Electrola 1975)
• Katja & Co. ( recordings from the same ARD TV Show) (EMI Electrola 1976)
• In Petersburg horse market is (EMI Electrola 1976)
• Love ( EMI Electrola 1977)
• So wat as ick'm et ... can only be from Berlin (EMI Electrola 1978)
• Glass House ( Ariola 1980)
• Katja live ( Ariola 1980)
• Hey, you there ... ( Ariola 1980)
• Head high ( Ariola 1981)
• My name is Katja ( live recordings of the ZDF TV show ) ( Ariola 1982)
• Dreamtime? ( Ariola 1982)
• Poets ( with Lutz Goerner ) ( Rezitheater -Verlag, 1990)
• Purple Lollipop - I slide down the slide ( Children's Songs ) ( Hedgehog Records 1991)
• Ebstein ( Polydor 1994)
• Masters of art (CAT Music 1996)
• Ave of Medjugorje - pilgrim songs (with Inge Brück ) (CAT Music 1996)
• Ave from Medjugorje - Pilgrim songs ( with Inge Brück ) (CAT Music 1997)
• Ave de Medjugorje - Chansons pelèrines ( with Inge Brück ) (CAT Music 1997)
• Ave of Medjugorje ( in Bosnian ) ( with Inge Brück ) (CAT Music 1997)
• Let's not deceive you! - Katja Ebstein sings and speaks Brecht ( German Grammophon 1999)
• Berlin ... and despite all this! ( German Grammophon 1999)
• It falls down ... (CAT Music 2001) a star
• Witkiewicz (EMI 2005)
• So what - we're still alive! ( Self-published, 2013)

Compilations and publications

• Inch Allah ( United Artists, 1973)
• The great successes ( United Artists 1974)
• Katja Ebstein international ( United Artists 1974)
• The star of Mykonos ( United Artists 1975)
• We live, we love ( United Artists 1975)
• Star Portrait ( 1976)
• Katja & Co. ( original recordings for the same television program ) (EMI 1976)
• Star Parade ( 1977)
• Portrait ( 1978)
• Star Discotheque ( 1978)
• Super Gold (1979 )
• Collection ( 1979)
• The Star - Album ( 1980)
• Stars in Gold ( Ariola 1982)
• Star Festival ( Ariola 1986)
• Star Portrait ( Europe 1986)
• Star Portrait ( Laserlight / Delta Music 1991)
• My greatest successes (BMG Ariola 1994)
• Wonder there are always (BMG Ariola 1994)
• Ballads (BMG Ariola 1996)
• Inch Allah (BMG Ariola 2003)
• Must once again see Berlin (BMG Ariola 2003)
• Schlager & Stars (EMI 2004)
• Theatre, Theatre (BMG Ariola 2005)
• Dieter Thomas Heck presents Closer - The stories of my Stars (BMG Sony / Ariola 2006)
• Songs by hunters and clowns (EMI 2007)
• The best of 40 years hit parade ( Ariola 2009)
• Being strong ( Ariola 2010) ( reissue of the album "Hey you there " )
• All Hits ( The Best of 40 years ) ( Sony Music 2010)
• Wonder there are always - My most beautiful songs ( Reader 's Digest, 2010)
• Only the wind knows my dreams - Hits & Rarities ( 3 CD Box) ( Sony Music 2010)

Club special editions

• Wonder there are always (S * R International 1970)
• This is Katja Ebstein ( Liberty 1970)
• And when a new day awakens (S * R International 1970)
• Friends ( S * R International 1971)
• We live - we love (S * R International 1972)
• The star of Mykonos (S * R International 1973)
• Glass House ( Ariola 1980)
• The big hits ( Ariola 1981)
• The great German Schlager- Archive: Dorco German / Katja Ebstein ( Sonocord 1990)
• Golden Stars (1998)

Promotion boards

• Thank you, your Katja Ebstein ( limited to 2000 pieces ) ( Liberty 1971)