Johannes Oerding

Raised in a modest German community close to the Dutch frontier, singer-songwriter Johannes Oerding launched his professional singing career in 1999. After accumulating a decade of stage work and industry know-how—highlighted by opening slots for Simply Red and Ich + Ich—he achieved nationwide prominence in 2009 through the arrival of his first album, Erste Wahl. The project resonated strongly with listeners, prompting Oerding to promote it via a completely sold-out headline tour. The following year brought dual developments: an invitation to serve on the jury for Germany’s Eurovision Song Contest alongside the start of sessions for his sophomore effort, Boxer, which reached stores in 2011. By 2013 he had been tapped as the support act for Joe Cocker’s German dates; that same year his third album, Für Immer Ab Jetzt, confirmed his rising stature by becoming his biggest success yet and peaking at number four on the domestic albums chart. Alles Brennt, issued in 2015, improved on that placement by one position, while his fifth studio set, Kreise, arrived in 2017 and climbed to number two in Germany, additionally entering the Swiss Top 20.