Klaus Nomi

Klaus Nomi ranked among the earliest high-profile figures claimed by AIDS, fusing rock and disco textures with an operatic and classical foundation. Born Klaus Sperber in Immenstadt, Bavaria, Germany, in 1944, he relocated to New York during the mid-1970s, where he earned his living as a pastry chef while singing in nightclubs. A performance caught David Bowie’s attention, leading Nomi to support the singer on Saturday Night Live. He soon launched cabaret tours across Europe and the United States, securing a contract with RCA in 1980. His debut release covered Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” while the 1982 album juxtaposed Chubby Checker material with works by Charles Camille Saint-Saëns. Nomi subsequently collaborated with renowned electro producer Man Parrish yet also interpreted pieces by baroque composer Henry Purcell and by Donna Summer. He passed away on August 6, 1983; afterward, several compilations appeared alongside a live recording made in America.