Will Glahé

About

German accordionist, composer, and bandleader, born February 12, 1902, Elberfeld (today Wuppertal), Germany - died November 21, 1989, Rheinbreitbach, Germany. In the 30's, one of the most successful accordionists in Germany. He led his own orchestra from 1932. One of his most famous songs in Germany was his 1936 recording of "Rosamunde", a cover version of the song "Škoda lásky" ("Wasted Love") by Jaromir Vejvoda. Under the title "Beer Barrel Polka", the tune hit #1 on the Hit Parade in the United States in 1939. After World War II he was known as the "Polka King" in the U.S., and did both big band and folk music arrangements with his orchestra. His "Liechtensteiner Polka" was also a hit in the U.S., hitting #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1957.