Quick Facts
Biography
Rolf Zuckowski (born 12 May 1947 in Hamburg) is a German singer, composer and Liedermacher. He has written and composed music especially for childrenbut his songs are very popular among adults, too. His compositions involve children in music throughout their childhood and accompany their
daily life. Meanwhile, many of his songs have attained the status of folk songs.
Early life
Zuckowski was born in Hamburg, Germany. He gained his first skills and experience as a musician in school at the age of eighteen. He was part of the school band "The BeAthovens", where he played the guitar and sang. In 1967 he released his first album "Happy to be happy" and began to study Economics in Hamburg. After his graduation in 1972, Zuckowski worked for the music publishing firm International Music Publishers Hans Sikorski.
Career
As a producer, composer and conductor, Zuckowski composed songs for several artists, such as the Swiss music group Peter, Sue & Marc. Together, they, repeatedly, took part in the Eurovision Song Contest.
In 1978 he released his first record for children, "Rolfs Vogelhochzeit" (Rolf's Wedding of the Birds) which is a German singspiel. In this record, he sings and tells the story of a bird couple that marries, builds a nest and cares for their offspring. Many songs followed and Zuckowski's popularity increased. In 1979 Zuckowski published the album "Rolfs Schulweg-Hitparade" in which he promotes road safety to children in a musical manner. The album is a cooperation with the German aid agencies Ein Herz für Kinder (A Heart for Children) and “Kind und Verkehr“.
Zuckowski became popular on the radio and gained international recognition with the song "Du da im Radio", the LP/MC "Radio Lollipop" and the radio-series "Hallo du da". He gained more recognition through several television appearances: In the German television series ZDF-Hitparade, he achieved the first place with his song "...und ganz doll mich". In 1982 he was invited to perform his songs "...und ganz doll mich" and in 1987 "In der Weihnachtsbäckerei" (In the Christmas bakery)in the entertainment television show Wetten, dass? (German for "Wanna Bet That...?").
In 1983 Zuckowski made the drafts for the album Tabaluga for which he also composed various songs. The album turned into a great success. One year later, he developed the television show "Große Show für kleine Leute". In 1990 "Rolfs Vogelhochzeit" was shown on the German TV channel ZDF. Two years later, his song cycle "die Jahresuhr" and the new "Schulweg-Hitparade" were published as videos. In 1994 he set up his own company under the umbrella of the Universal Music Group.
Zuckowski has released 45 studio albums, 1 audio play, 2 live albums, 8 Christmas albums, 9 video albums, 14 compilations, 1 boxset and 45 singles.
Some of Zuckowski’s other famous works are the songs "Wie schön, dass du geboren bist" (How wonderful it is that you were born), "Stups, der kleine Osterhase", "Kommt wir woll’n Laterne laufen". He also writes songs for adults and sees himself as a singer songwriter for the whole family.
Awards
- In 1986 Zuckowski's song "...und ganz doll mich" made it into The Guinness Book of World Records as the "World’s longest song". Zuckowski used 3776 lines that had been written by children.
- In 1992 he received the "Christophorus Preis" for the artistic realization of the song "Schulweg-Hitparade"
- In 1994 and 2008 he was awarded the Echo for his work as a composer, songwriter, artist and music producer
- In 2000 he received the Deutscher Musikpreis.
- In 2001 he is awarded the Paul-Lincke-Ring by the town of Goslar for his work in the category "popular music"
- In 2003 Zuckowski is awarded the German "Musikeditionspreis" for the complete works of "Rolfs Vogelhochzeit"
- In 2005 Rolf Zuckowski receives the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany to acknowledge his contribution to the musical development of children.
- In 2007 he is awarded the Goldene Stimmgabel