Peter Maffay

Peter Alexander Makkay (born 30 August 1949), known as Peter Maffay (German pronunciation: [ˌpetɐ ˈmafaɪ̯]), is a Romanian-born German musician, singer, and composer. Being a veteran musician, he is often credited for motivating audiences with his emotional lyrics and powerful melodies, establishing himself as a cornerstone of the German music scene.

Early life and background

Born in Braşov (German: Kronstadt), Romania, the son of a German (Transylvanian Saxon), he was 14 when his family relocated to his parents' West Germany in 1963. In the same year, he started his first band, The Dukes. After completing his education and working for Chemigraphics, an art manufacturer, Maffay worked in clubs, where he distributed his music.

Maffay's career started with the publication of his first single, "Du" ("You"). It was his biggest German hit in 1970 and brought him instant fame. With the 1979 album Steppenwolf, he became a major music star in Germany. The album sold 1.6 million copies, making it one of the best selling albums at that time. In 1980, the album Revanche ("Revenge") broke his previous record, selling more than 2.1 million copies.

Career

Working with Michael Kunze, Maffay co-wrote the song "Ich bin wie du" for Elke Best. Backed with "Die Spiele der großen Leute" it was produced by Fritz Muschler and released on EMI Electrola 006-30 462 in 1973.

Together with German singer-songwriter Johnny Tame he formed a successful country rock duo in 1976 called Tame & Maffay. They released two albums and continued a close cooperation until 1985.