Will Glahé

Will Glahé ( Gustav Adolf Wilhelm Glahe; born February 12, 1902 in Elberfeld, Wuppertal today, † November 21, 1989 in Rheinbreitbach ) was a German accordionist, composer and bandleader.

Life and work

Glahé studied at the Musikhochschule in Cologne and funded the study by appearances as a pianist in Cologne cafes. In 1929 he was a member of the Dajos Béla Orchestra. In 1932 he founded his own orchestra, which resided in Berlin Delphi Palace. In the 1930s, Will Glahé belonged next to Heinz Munsonius and Albert Vossen 's most successful accordionists in Germany. He successfully was mainly with traditional folk music. One of his first major successes was the 1936 recording of Polka Rosamunde by Jaromir Vejvoda; a success in 1939 with the recording of the same composition under the title Beer Barrel Polka surpassed in the United States. After the 2nd World War he was promoted in the United States finally to the " Polka King". In November 1957 he once again saw a comeback by the Liechtenstein Polka, composed by Rudi Cologne of the Dovenmühle. Due to the polka music Glahé was much better known as an accordionist and not so much as a pianist. Besides popular music, the orchestra Will Glahé also cultivated the big band sound, and Glahé also composed film scores. Glahé, who also worked under the pseudonym Charles Drake, has received a total of 17 gold records.

Lexical entries

• Jürgen Wölfer Jazz in Germany - The lexicon. All musicians and record companies from 1920 to today. Courts: Hannibal Verlag 2008, ISBN 978-3-85445-274-4