Dieter Bohlen
Early Life and Education
Dieter Bohlen was born in Oldenburg, Germany, on February 7, 1954. His first job was at his uncle's harbor in Hamburg. In 1971, at the age of 17, Bohlen enrolled at the University of Göttingen to study business. During his time there, he played in several bands. He began playing the guitar, with the Beatles songs being his first repertoire. During this period, he also wrote his first song, "Viele Bomben Fallen," which gained little recognition even among his friends. He later learned to play the keyboard.
Marriage and Personal Life
Bohlen met his wife Erika at a disco in Hamburg in 1973. They married on November 11, 1983, also in Hamburg. In 1978, Bohlen graduated from university with a degree in business. Upon graduating, he contemplated various career paths but continued to pursue his dream of becoming a pop star. He submitted his songs to record labels, but most of his work went unnoticed.
Breakthrough as a Composer
In 1979, after numerous rejections, Bohlen finally secured a job as a composer at the record label Intersong. In 1982, he received the opportunity to record his own song. However, it was not reflective of his usual musical style. He continued writing music and songs for other artists, using pseudonyms such as Steve Benson, Ryan Simmons, Sunday, and Countdown G.T.O.
Formation of Modern Talking
In February 1983, Bohlen met Thomas Anders at the record company Hansa. Bohlen proposed the formation of the band Modern Talking, and in November 1984, they released their debut single, "You're My Heart - You're My Soul." In March 1985, Modern Talking released another single, "You Can Win If You Want," which became a chart-topping hit across Europe. Their debut album followed shortly after.
Continued Success and Recognition
While the world enjoyed their first album, Bohlen and Anders worked on their second major release, titled "Let's Talk About Love." Released in late 1985, it did not achieve the same level of popularity as their initial album. In 1986, the third album, "Ready For Romance," was released. During this time, Bohlen continued to write songs for other artists. His son Mark, named after the singer Marc Bolan, was born on July 9, 1985. In honor of this event, Bohlen composed and recorded the song "With A Little Love," which appears on the second Blue System album, "Let's Talk About Love." Bohlen's second child, Marvin, was born on January 21, 1988. Again, to commemorate this occasion, Bohlen wrote "Marvin's Song," which is found on the Blue System album "Forever Blue," released in 1995. In 1990, Bohlen welcomed his daughter Merelin, inspiring the song "Goodnight Marielin," which appears on the album "X-Ten," released in 1994.
Departure from Modern Talking and Formation of Blue System
By the end of 1986, Modern Talking released their fourth album, "In The Middle Of Nowhere." It contained the track "Geronimo's Cadillac," which became a popular disco anthem worldwide. In 1987, Bohlen decided to disband Modern Talking. The fifth album, "Romantic Warriors," was released, and immediately after, Bohlen formed a new band called Blue System. Their debut album, "Walking On A Rainbow," was released and captured the same musical style as Modern Talking.
Return of Modern Talking
Modern Talking had sold over 42 million records worldwide. In April 1998, the band reunited. Bohlen and Anders released a re-recorded version of their debut single, titled "You're My Heart - You're My Soul '98." In May 1998, the album "Back For Good" was released, featuring 12 remixes and four new songs. "Brother Louie '98" was released as a single in August 1998. On February 22, 1999, Modern Talking released the album "Alone," which included 17 new songs.
Further Career and Controversies
In 2002, Bohlen published his autobiography, "Nichts als die Wahrheit" ("Nothing But the Truth"), which became a bestseller. He also became a judge on the German talent competition "Deutschland sucht den Superstar" ("Germany's Search for the Superstar"). In 2003, Bohlen released his second autobiography, "Hinter den Kulissen" ("Behind the Scenes"), which sparked controversy and lawsuits.
Recent Projects and Future Endeavors
Throughout his career, Bohlen has collaborated with numerous artists, including Mark Medlock and Andrea Berg. He continues to release new music, with his most recent album, "Das MEGA Album!," being released in 2019. In 2021, he appeared in a music video with Russian singer Alexander Revva, performing a Russian-language cover of Modern Talking's hit "Cheri, Cheri Lady." Bohlen remains an iconic figure in the German music industry, with a legacy that spans decades and continues to inspire generations of musicians.
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