Fred Bertelmann was born in Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany on October 7, 1925. At the age of nine he became a chorister and later studied cello, trumpet, guitar and singing.
In World War II, he fought in the Wehrmacht but then became a prisoner of war and was sent to Alabama, where he first heard of swing music. After his return to Germany, he founded his own band and often performed in American GI clubs in Germany. In 1950 he toured Sweden with Arne Hülphers and Zarah Leander. He also worked as a solo singer of Schlager songs. Bertelmann worked as an actor in the 1950s and 1960s, in movies as well as in stage plays.
His most popular song was the 1957 published Der lachende Vagabund, a cover version of Jim Lowe's song Gambler’s Guitar. Other hits include Wenn es Nacht wird in Montana, In Hamburg sind die Nächte lang, Zwei Gitarren am Meer, Ein kleines Lied auf allen Wegen, Arrivederci Roma, Meine Heimat ist täglich woanders, Ti amo Marina, Schwalbenlied, Es wird in 100 Jahren wieder so ein Frühling sein, Gitarren klingen leise durch die Nacht, Es ist ein Herzenswunsch von mir, Ich wünsch' dir eine schöne Zeit, Die Mühlen, Mit dir möchte ich 100 Jahre werden and Amore mio.
He married television presenter and actress Ruth Kappelsberger in 1966. In late 2013 he suffered from severe pneumonia. Fred Bertelmann died on January 22, 2014 in Berg, Upper Bavaria. He was 88 years old.
BERTELMANN, Fred (aka Fred Berthelmann) [10/7/1925, Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany – 1/22/2014, Berg, Upper Bavaria, Germany] - singer, actor, married to actress Ruth Kappelsberger [1927-2014] (1966-2014).
A Fistful of Songs - 1966 [sings: “Wenn ich dich anseh”]
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