Fred Bertelmann (7 October 1925 – 22 January 2014) was a German singer and actor. Bertelmann was born in Duisburg. Aged 9 he became a chorister and later also studied cello, trumpet, guitar and singing. In World War II, he fought in the Wehrmacht but then became a prisoner of war and was sent to Alabama, where he first heard of swing music. After his return to Germany he founded his own band and often performed in American GI clubs in Germany.
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Fred Bertelmann (7 October 1925 – 22 January 2014) was a German singer and actor. Bertelmann was born in Duisburg. Aged 9 he became a chorister and later also studied cello, trumpet, guitar and singing. In World War II, he fought in the Wehrmacht but then became a prisoner of war and was sent to Alabama, where he first heard of swing music. After his return to Germany he founded his own band and often performed in American GI clubs in Germany. In 1950 he toured Sweden with Arne Hülphers and Zarah Leander. He also worked as a solo singer of Schlager songs. Bertelmann played as an actor in the 1950s and 1960s, in movies as well as in stage plays. His most popular song was the 1957 published Der lachende Vagabund, a cover version of Jim Lowe's song Gambler’s Guitar. Other hits include Wenn es Nacht wird in Montana, In Hamburg sind die Nächte lang, Zwei Gitarren am Meer, Ein kleines Lied auf allen Wegen, Arrivederci Roma, Meine Heimat ist täglich woanders, Ti amo Marina, Schwalbenlied, Es wird in 100 Jahren wieder so ein Frühling sein, Gitarren klingen leise durch die Nacht, Es ist ein Herzenswunsch von mir, Ich wünsch' dir eine schöne Zeit, Die Mühlen, Mit dir möchte ich 100 Jahre werden and Amore mio. Since 1966 he was married to television presenter and actress Ruth Kappelsberger. In late 2013 he suffered from severe pneumonia. He died on 22 January 2014 in Berg, Upper Bavaria.
