Reinhard Mey

Reinhard Mey, the German liedermacher, achieved widespread recognition in France and Germany, establishing himself among the era’s most prominent and cherished singer/songwriters. Born in Berlin on December 21, 1942, he acquired proficiency on piano and guitar while still young. His earliest public performances occurred after he joined the skiffle ensemble Les Trois Affamés. In 1965 the group was invited to a liedermacher festival at Burg Waldeck, an appearance that secured their first recording contract. Mey issued his debut solo album in 1967 and left university to devote himself to music full time. The ensuing four decades brought more than twenty albums that reached listeners across Germany, France, and Holland. Honors accumulated during this period included the Verdienstkreuz am Bande in 1983 and the Verdienstkreuz 1. Klasse in 2001. He also became the first non-French artist to receive the Prix International de la Chanson Française (1968). Releases in both France and Germany continued well into the 2000s; 2013’s Dann Mach's Gut affirmed his sustained creative and commercial strength, drawing enthusiastic reviews and topping the German sales charts.