Will Glahé

Will Glahé (February 12, 1902 – November 21, 1989) was a German accordionist, composer, and bandleader.

Glahé was born at Elberfeld, Germany. In the 1930s, he was, along with Heinz Munsonius and Albert Vossen, one of the most successful accordionists in Germany. He led his own orchestra from 1932 and became successful particularly in popular music.

One of his most famous songs in Germany was his 1936 recording of "Rosamunde" (a German female forename), a cover version of the song "Škoda lásky" ("Wasted Love") by Jaromir Vejvoda. Under the title "Beer Barrel Polka", the tune hit No. 1 on the Hit Parade in the United States in 1939. It sold over one million copies by 1943, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA. 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 No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1957. The follow-up single "Sweet Elizabeth" (1958) appeared in all major U.S. charts, nearing the top 40 in Cashbox and Music Vendor.

He had some success with "The Cuckoo Waltz" by Swede E. I. Jonasson in 1969, and the song is now used widely, in the Alice in Wonderland dark ride at Blackpool Pleasure Beach and in Efteling, Holland.

His album, Oktoberfest peaked at number 53 in Australia in 1973.

He died at Rheinbreitbach.

Birth and Death Data: Born February 12, 1902 (Elberfeld), Died November 21, 1989 (Rheinbreitbach)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1933 - 1939

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, accordion, composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 76-100 of 122 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Gramophone 0RA3011 10-in. 6/2/1938 Spaziergang auf Kuba (Foxtrott) Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Gramophone 0RA3174 10-in. 8/31/1938 Low down Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Gramophone 0RA3175 10-in. 8/31/1938 Sensation Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Gramophone 0RA3176 10-in. 8/31/1938 Weekend Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Gramophone 0RA3187 10-in. 9/6/1938 Schön blüh'n die Heckenrosen Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal trio leader  
Gramophone 0RA3188 10-in. 9/6/1938 Ja, wenn die Liebe nicht wär' Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal trio leader  
Gramophone 0RA3189 10-in. 9/6/1938 Mit dir möcht' ich geh'n bis ans Ende der Welt Orchester Will Glahé ; Schuricke-Terzett Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal trio leader  
Gramophone 0RA3191 10-in. 9/6/1938 Holla Lady Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble, with vocal leader  
Gramophone 0RA3192 10-in. 9/6/1938 Almentanz Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble, with vocal leader  
Gramophone 0RA3193 10-in. 9/6/1938 Du bist nicht mit Gold zu bezahlen Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble, with vocal leader  
Gramophone 0RA3195 10-in. 9/6/1938 Dorfpolka Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Gramophone 0RA3279 10-in. 9/28/1938 Fröhliche Volkslieder Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal trio leader  
Gramophone 0RA3280 10-in. 9/28/1938 Frohsinn am laufenden Band Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal trio leader  
Gramophone 0RA3282 10-in. 9/28/1938 Kinder, wie die Zeit vergeht Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal trio leader  
Gramophone 0RA3359 10-in. 1938 Das kannst du nicht ahnen Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble, with vocal leader  
Gramophone 0RA3360 10-in. 1938 Kornblumenblau Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble leader  
Gramophone 0RA3361 10-in. 1938 Heute geht der Vati mal alleine aus Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble, with vocal leader  
Gramophone 0RA3498 10-in. before 10/10/1939 Schlittenfahrt Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble, with vocal leader  
Gramophone 0RA3544 10-in. January 1939 Joj, Maman, bin ich verliebt Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble leader  
Gramophone 0RA3545 10-in. before 1/31/1939 Schi-Heil! Orchester Will Glahé ; Schuricke-Terzett Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal trio leader  
Gramophone 0RA3575 10-in. before 7/20/1939 Humdinger Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Gramophone 0RA3576 10-in. 1939 Das ist der Onkel Steputat Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble, with vocal leader  
Gramophone 0RA3577 10-in. 1939 Rund um die Reeperbahn Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble, with vocal leader  
Gramophone 0RA3578 10-in. 1939 Rund um die Reeperbahn Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble, with vocal leader  
Gramophone 0RA3619 10-in. between January and June 1939 Kicking up Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
(Results 76-100 of 122 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Glahé, Will," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/107148.

Glahé, Will. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/107148.

"Glahé, Will." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/107148

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