Peter Kraus
Encyclopedia
Peter Kraus is a German singer and actor.
Born Peter Siegfried Krausenecker in Munich
, Kraus was popular especially in the 1950s, notably in those musical comedy films where he played opposite Cornelia Froboess
.
.
was a big seller even with German lyrics, they marketed Kraus as an Elvis
copy. Kraus soon became – just like his colleague Ted Herold – one of Germany's most popular singer and teen idol, the lanky and nonchalant attitude of the young man was a big hit with teens. In the first four years after his debut he published 36 hits and sold more than twelve million vinyls.
Kraus' first disc in 1956 was a German version of Little Richard
s „Tutti Frutti“. In mid-1957 his first hit „Susi Rock“ followed and made it to number 8 in the charts. From then until 1964 Kraus was regularly in the German charts. 1958 he recorded „Wenn Teenager träumen“ (when teenagers dream), „Hula Baby“ und the legendary „Sugar Baby“, 1959 followed his version of „Tiger“. At first Kraus was heavily influenced by Elvis Presley, but soon he managed to find his own style. As the „nice boy from next door“ he sang with his female counterpart, teen idol Conny Froboess
and appeared with her in movies like 1958 in „Wenn die Conny mit dem Peter“ or 1960 in „Conny und Peter machen Musik“. Both advanced to the most beloved big screen stars of German teenagers in the late fifties. 1959 Peter Kraus appeared together with his father Fred Kraus, playing the role of his father , in "Melodie und Rhythmus".
Kraus also published some songs together with Jörg Maria Berg; under the pseudonym The James Brothers the two played German cover versions like 1958 „Wenn“ (When), 1959 „Cowboy Billy“, 1960 „Rote Rosen“ (Pretty Blue Eyes), „Die jungen Jahre“ (Endless Sleep) oder 1964 „Hätt' ich einen Hammer“ (If I Had A Hammer), just to name a few. He also sang together with Connie Francis
, Lill Babs, Danny Mann
, Alice and Ellen Kessler, Gus Backus
as well as Gina Dobra.
Born Peter Siegfried Krausenecker in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Kraus was popular especially in the 1950s, notably in those musical comedy films where he played opposite Cornelia Froboess
Cornelia Froboess
Cornelia Froboess is a German actress and a teen idol of the 1950s and early 1960s. During that time, Froboess appeared in many musical films, especially after the rock and roll wave had hit Germany...
.
Youth
The son of Austrian born director and comedian Fred Krausnecker spent his youth alternating in Munich, Vienna and Salzburg where his father owned a small theatre. Already during his school years Peter Kraus took singing and acting lessons as well as step dancing classes. His first acting role was the part of Johnny in „Das fliegende Klassenzimmer“ (1954) after the novel by Erich KästnerErich Kästner
Emil Erich Kästner was a German author, poet, screenwriter and satirist, known for his humorous, socially astute poetry and children's literature.-Dresden 1899–1919:...
.
Family
1969 Kraus married the photo model Ingrid. She brought her daughter Gaby into the marriage, whom Kraus adopted later on. A few years later their son Mike was born. Gaby died in her late thirties from breast cancer.Rock'n'Roll-Star
When the German music industry discovered that rock ’n’ rollRock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
was a big seller even with German lyrics, they marketed Kraus as an Elvis
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
copy. Kraus soon became – just like his colleague Ted Herold – one of Germany's most popular singer and teen idol, the lanky and nonchalant attitude of the young man was a big hit with teens. In the first four years after his debut he published 36 hits and sold more than twelve million vinyls.
Kraus' first disc in 1956 was a German version of Little Richard
Little Richard
Richard Wayne Penniman , known by the stage name Little Richard, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist, and actor, considered key in the transition from rhythm and blues to rock and roll in the 1950s. He was also the first artist to put the funk in the rock and roll beat and...
s „Tutti Frutti“. In mid-1957 his first hit „Susi Rock“ followed and made it to number 8 in the charts. From then until 1964 Kraus was regularly in the German charts. 1958 he recorded „Wenn Teenager träumen“ (when teenagers dream), „Hula Baby“ und the legendary „Sugar Baby“, 1959 followed his version of „Tiger“. At first Kraus was heavily influenced by Elvis Presley, but soon he managed to find his own style. As the „nice boy from next door“ he sang with his female counterpart, teen idol Conny Froboess
Cornelia Froboess
Cornelia Froboess is a German actress and a teen idol of the 1950s and early 1960s. During that time, Froboess appeared in many musical films, especially after the rock and roll wave had hit Germany...
and appeared with her in movies like 1958 in „Wenn die Conny mit dem Peter“ or 1960 in „Conny und Peter machen Musik“. Both advanced to the most beloved big screen stars of German teenagers in the late fifties. 1959 Peter Kraus appeared together with his father Fred Kraus, playing the role of his father , in "Melodie und Rhythmus".
Kraus also published some songs together with Jörg Maria Berg; under the pseudonym The James Brothers the two played German cover versions like 1958 „Wenn“ (When), 1959 „Cowboy Billy“, 1960 „Rote Rosen“ (Pretty Blue Eyes), „Die jungen Jahre“ (Endless Sleep) oder 1964 „Hätt' ich einen Hammer“ (If I Had A Hammer), just to name a few. He also sang together with Connie Francis
Connie Francis
Connie Francis is an American pop singer of Italian heritage and the top-charting female vocalist of the 1950s and 1960s. Although her chart success waned in the second half of the 1960s, Francis remained a top concert draw...
, Lill Babs, Danny Mann
Danny Mann
Daniel "Danny" Mann is an American voice actor, writer, singer, musician, and production manager. He is best known for his voice of Hector from Heathcliff and the Catillac Cats, Freeway, Cloudraker and Lightspeed in Transformers, Backwoods Beagle in DuckTales, Kaltag in Balto, Ferdinand from Babe,...
, Alice and Ellen Kessler, Gus Backus
Gus Backus
Gus Backus is a former member of the Del-Vikings. He also released a single on Carlton Records in 1958. He later became a popular singer in 1960s West Germany after he was stationed there as a soldier in the U.S. Army at Wiesbaden Air Base from 1957.-External links:...
as well as Gina Dobra.