Willy Berking

Willy Berking (born 22 June 1910 in Dusseldorf, † May 21, 1979 ) was a German orchestra conductor, trombonist and composer.

Life and work

Willy Berking studied music ( piano, composition ) in Dusseldorf and then in Berlin, where he formed his first big band at the age of 18 years. He had to jazz and especially the Swing prescribed, which was however rejected by the Nazis. As a trombonist, he toured with various dance and entertainment orchestra this time, including at the "Golden Seven" and the Telefunken Swing Orchestra under Heinz Wehner (with whom he went to Berlin in 1934 ). From 1934 he studied trombone; In 1938 he headed a studio orchestra for the Imperial - LP ( " Berking tip series "). He also took up with Adalbert Lutter, Michael Jary and Hans Rehmstedt and was active in the propaganda big band "Charlie and His Orchestra ".

After the Second World War, he took over in 1946, the leadership of the newly formed dance orchestra of Hessischer Rundfunk, from which emerged the great dance and entertainment orchestra of Hessischer Rundfunk. With this orchestra Willy Berking celebrated in the 1950s, his greatest successes. He wrote hit and instrumental titles like pickles or Trumpet Jump and the five -part suite Brasiliana. His compositions have been sung by the renowned artists of that time. For a million records sold in 1957, he received a gold disc. At a national celebrity Willy Berking through the TV show " EEC " with Hans -Joachim Kulenkampff.

After a heart attack Willy Berking had to give up the leadership of the orchestra in 1972, his successor was from the ranks of the orchestra Heinz Schönberger. Berking died in 1979 from cancer.