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 101-122 of 122 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Gramophone 0RA3620 10-in. before 7/20/1939 Antonio Vargas Heredia (Paso doble) Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Gramophone 0RA3627 10-in. 1939 Hück maache Meer en Stippvisit Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Gramophone 0RA3628 10-in. 1939 Duze Mich Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Gramophone 0RA3629 10-in. 1939 Unter dem Kastanienbaum Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble, with vocal leader  
Gramophone 0RA3630 10-in. before 7/20/1939 Tango espagnola Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Gramophone 0RA3645 10-in. 1939 Goodbye Johnny Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Gramophone 0RA3921 10-in. 1939 Landluft Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Gramophone 0RA3923 10-in. 1939 Dorfschmiede Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Gramophone 0RA3928 10-in. 1939 24 Stunden Liebe Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensmeble leader  
Gramophone 0RA3929 10-in. 1939 Tun Sie doch nicht so Will Glahé Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Gramophone 0RA3930 10-in. 1939 Das Leben ist so schön Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Gramophone 0RA3931 10-in. 1939 Erika Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Gramophone 0RA3994 10-in. 1939 Dudelsack Hans Carste Orchestra ; Schuricke-Terzett Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio leader  
Gramophone 0RA3995 10-in. 1939 Lüg nicht, Baby Hans Carste Orchestra ; Schuricke-Terzett Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio leader  
Gramophone 0RA4055 10-in. 1939 Margarethe (Spring' ins Wasser, Margarethe) Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal trio leader, composer  
Gramophone 0RA4056 10-in. 1939 Woodpecker (Pajarito carpintero) Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Gramophone 0RA4058 10-in. 1939 Tanzende Finger (Dancing fingers) Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Gramophone 0RA4061 10-in. 1939 Heute sollte Sonntag sein Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble, with vocal leader  
Gramophone 0RA4062 10-in. 1939 Spiel mir auf der Balalaika Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble, with vocal leader  
Gramophone 0RA4063 10-in. 1939 Fröhliches Spiel Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Gramophone 0RA2923 10-in. 5/11/1938 Beer barrel polka Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader, instrumentalist, accordion  
Gramophone 0RA2925 10-in. 5/11/1938 Hot pretzels Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader, composer  
(Results 101-122 of 122 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Glahé, Will," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/107148.

Glahé, Will. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/107148.

"Glahé, Will." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.