The Bert Kaempfert Gala Concert

Bert Kaempfert died in June 1980, following his tour of the Uk. However, he left a wonderful legacy of popular music – songs which provided hits for many of the world’s top singers. ‘SPANISH EYES’ became a hit for Al Martino , ‘DANKE SCHOEN’ was a hit for Wayne Newton, ‘LOVE’ became a hit for Nat King Cole, and ‘STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT’ provided the hit record for Frank Sinatra, which brought him back from obscurity to popularity. Singer Johnny Mathis recorded a double album of songs written by Bert Kaempfert, and almost every popular singer from the 60's, 70's and 80's era, has included recordings of Kaempfert's songs in their recorded repertoire.

The Greg Francis Orchestra and Singers, recorded literally hundreds of titles of Kaempfert’s music for BBC Radio 2 during the 1980’s. Greg himself, recorded with many of Kaempfert’s ex musicians, with the NDR Radio Orchestra in Hamburg, including his original trumpet soloist Manfred Moch, and his lead trumpet player Heinz Habermann. On these concerts, Greg Francis plays all of the trumpet solos, in exactly the style of the original recordings.

The Gala Concert, also features several new arrangements of music, never before recorded by Bert Kaempfert himself, including 'Walk in the Black Forest' 'Dance in the Old Fashioned Way' and more, all arranged in the Kaempfert style by Greg Francis, and commissioned for both the BBC and NDR Orchestras.


The Greg Francis Orchestra & Singers. Original personnel circa 1990