Musician. Born Johann Hans Hölzel in Vienna, Austria, the son of Alois and Maria Hölzel. He received piano lessons from the age of four and eventually attended the Vienna Conservatory. In 1974 he became the bassist for the music group, Umspannwerk, before joining The Hallucination Company in 1978. During that time he adopted the stage name Falco. In 1981, a solo effort written by Robert Ponger and Falco, ‘Der Kommissar,' reached number one in German-speaking countries and Scandinavia by January 1982 and was followed by his first album, ‘Einzelhaft.' In 1985 he recorded the single ‘Rock Me Amadeus' which became a worldwide hit by 1986 topping the charts in the United States, Austria, Canada, Germany, Spain, France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Russia, Sweden, South Africa, and New Zealand. The follow up album, ‘Falco 3' included ‘Rock Me Amadeus' as well as a second international hit, ‘Vienna Calling.' Later that year, he was awarded a Golden Bambi as the most successful German-language pop singer of the year. His international fame faded as quickly it had grown, and he failed to chart any of his five released albums outside of Germany and Austria after 1987. His attempt to re-enter the American charts with the 1992 song ‘Titanic' which netted him number of awards, but failed to chart. In the spring of 1993 he headed a successful tour of Austria, Germany, Switzerland and European Russia, but he would not record again for three years. In 1996 he released the single, ‘Naked' which sold well in Austria, but was a flop elsewhere. He began work on an album in the summer of 1997, but remained unhappy with the work throughout, postponing the release date several times. In February 1998, while in the Dominican Republic, his car collided with a bus while he was attempting to merge into highway traffic near the resort of Puerto Plata. He succumbed to injuries sustained, his body was returned to Austria for burial.
Musician. Born Johann Hans Hölzel in Vienna, Austria, the son of Alois and Maria Hölzel. He received piano lessons from the age of four and eventually attended the Vienna Conservatory. In 1974 he became the bassist for the music group, Umspannwerk, before joining The Hallucination Company in 1978. During that time he adopted the stage name Falco. In 1981, a solo effort written by Robert Ponger and Falco, ‘Der Kommissar,' reached number one in German-speaking countries and Scandinavia by January 1982 and was followed by his first album, ‘Einzelhaft.' In 1985 he recorded the single ‘Rock Me Amadeus' which became a worldwide hit by 1986 topping the charts in the United States, Austria, Canada, Germany, Spain, France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Russia, Sweden, South Africa, and New Zealand. The follow up album, ‘Falco 3' included ‘Rock Me Amadeus' as well as a second international hit, ‘Vienna Calling.' Later that year, he was awarded a Golden Bambi as the most successful German-language pop singer of the year. His international fame faded as quickly it had grown, and he failed to chart any of his five released albums outside of Germany and Austria after 1987. His attempt to re-enter the American charts with the 1992 song ‘Titanic' which netted him number of awards, but failed to chart. In the spring of 1993 he headed a successful tour of Austria, Germany, Switzerland and European Russia, but he would not record again for three years. In 1996 he released the single, ‘Naked' which sold well in Austria, but was a flop elsewhere. He began work on an album in the summer of 1997, but remained unhappy with the work throughout, postponing the release date several times. In February 1998, while in the Dominican Republic, his car collided with a bus while he was attempting to merge into highway traffic near the resort of Puerto Plata. He succumbed to injuries sustained, his body was returned to Austria for burial.
Bio by: Iola
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