Die Paldauer

Originating from Paldau in Styria, Austria, the six-piece schlager ensemble Die Paldauer came together in 1968 and quickly established a lasting presence across Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Their lineup has long featured frontman Franz Griesbacher, born September 3, 1956, in Paldau, alongside Anton Peter “Toni” Hofer (born January 18, 1967, in Graz), Erwin Pfundner (born April 25, 1954, in Feldbach), Renato Wohllaib (born December 24, 1960, in Höchst), Dietmar “Didi” Ganshofer (born June 15, 1961, in Mürzzuschlag), and Manfred Brandstätter (born November 17, 1964, in Voitsberg). Entering the recording market with Mit Uns Macht’s Spaß in 1977, the group maintained a near-annual release schedule that stretched well into the new millennium, consistently landing high on German-language album charts. Standout successes include the Top Ten Austrian entries Unendlich Glücklich (1996), Pures Glück (1999), Gib Mir Liebe (2006), and Nur Du! (2009), while the 2008 anniversary retrospective Plötzlich War’s Liebe: Das Beste zum Jubiläum also resonated strongly with audiences. Beyond chart performance, the sextet earned Goldene Stimmgabel honors in both 1998 and 2000.