Saturday, October 6, 2018

Who Are Those Composers? ~ Willy Dehmel


Willy Dehmel was born in Berlin, Germany on February 26, 1909 and studied theater science in Berlin where he also took acting lessons. Dehmel began his musical career as a pianist in silent movie cinemas and worked with various dance bands. In 1931, his collaboration began as a copywriter with his cousin the composer Franz Grothe. From this congenial collaboration he wrote songs for more than 50 films between 1933 and 1961. Among the most important artists he worked with were Marta Eggerth, Willi Forst, Johannes Heesters, Lilian Harvey, Kirsten Heiberg, Lizzi Waldmüller and Marika Rökk . He also wrote songs outside the movie scene.

Dehmel co-composed with Werner Eisbrenner (Werner Friedrich Emil Eisbrenner) [1908-1981] the score for 1953 Euro-western “Johnny Saves Nebrador”.

Since 1950 he was a member of the supervisory board of GEMA (Gesellschaft für musikalische Aufführungs- und mechanische Vervielfältigungsrechte). He was also president of the German Lyricists Association.

The Willy Dehmel Prize has been awarded in honor of lyricist Willy Dehmel since 1985, now every two years, by the GEMA Foundation to lyricists and librettists. Award criteria is that "the winners in the sense of the founder in the field of German popular song have a successful overall career and have contributed to the reputation of their profession".


DEHMEL, Willy (aka Willi Dehmel) [2/26/1909, Berlin, Berlin, Germany – 6/15/1971, Bad Wiessee, Bavaria, Germany] – writer, composer, songwriter, musician (piano), cousin of composer, conductor Franz Grothe (Franz Johannes August Grothe) [1908-1992].
Johnny Saves Nebrador – 1953 (co)

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