James Last has been making people happy with his music for nearly 50 years.
Now the 73-year-old is realizing an ambition that he has harbored for a similarly long period.
"This tour to China is making a dream come true," he told a news conference on Saturday afternoon.
Chinese fans of his music have waited a long time for his China tour, which will start in Guangzhou on Wednesday.
The music event will then go to Hangzhou on Friday, Shanghai on Saturday and Nanjing next Monday. It will end at Beijing's Workers' Stadium next Wednesday.
"This tour is very special for me and my orchestra of 40 musicians. I believe it will bring us new friends, unforgettable memories and a great impression of China, a country with incomparable history, culture, nature and future," said Last.
"Music is my life and music is the reconciling language of the world. Wherever you are, music can help you make friends."
For the China tour, Last has chosen a program involving both his current hits and some of his favorite hits such as Crockett's Theme, Flamingo Park, Hero, Dance Queen, Nature Boy, Can't Get You Out of My Head and Games That Lovers Play.
Musical Atmosphere
On April 17, 1929, James Last, the youngest of three brothers, was born in Bremen, Germany, and grew up surrounded by music.
At the age of nine, young Last was able to play Hanschen Klein, a German folk song, on the piano. Initially, music was something of an irritation but a year later he took his first proper class in the piano.
But it seems he was far from delighted, as he would prefer to be playing football. His teacher claimed he was totally unmusical. But this was proved wrong when he was admitted to the Music Academy in Bremen at the age of 14.
However, he couldn't completely tear himself away from the jazz and swing boom in post-war Germany and his favorite instrument was bass.
In 1946, he and his two brothers joined the newly formed Radio Bremen Orchestra and he became a wonderful orchestra musician and an excellent jazz bass player as well. Two years later, they formed a six-member band called The Last-Becker Ensemble.
For three consecutive years from 1950-52, Germany's jazz critics voted Last as the best jazz bassist.
Non Stop Dancing, the first James Last Orchestra LP production, took the charts by storm in 1965.
One year later Last started his orchestra which immediately appealed to the audience. The recipe: lively, optimistic and melodious music, backed by a party atmosphere.
The fact that James Last is not only a successful instrumentalist but a talented and diverse composer and music-arranger, was demonstrated in the following years.
In 1967 he had four LPs simultaneously at the top of the British hit parade, and one award followed the other.
In 1969, 1970 and 1971 German music polls named the band "most popular orchestra" of the year. The most popular German weekly magazine Hoer Zu awarded him the "Goldene Kamera."
Last became a star of the national and international music scene, his sound was omnipresent, and yet he kept his feet on the ground.
Modesty is his hallmark; James Last is not a man of star airs and graces. He only feels privileged because he has always been able to do what he likes doing: making music.
"I have always made music which I liked and then I realized that lots of people like what I like," he said. "My special talent, if you like, is to enter the heart of the audience."
He does exactly that and other music stars have paid tribute to his talent. His composition, Games That Lovers Play, has been recorded in 100 different versions throughout the whole world by artists such as Conny Francis or Ray Conniff. And musical composer Andrew Lloyd Webber calls his version of Don't Cry For Me, Argentina the best arrangement of his song that has ever been made.
So many popular artists come and go, but James Last remains, riding waves of success through the 1980s and 1990s.
He celebrated his 70th birthday with an extensive tour of Germany, England and Scandinavia with more than 50 concerts.
"My secret for keeping young is my passion for music," said Last. Even though he is now 73, he is still prepared to give his all on stage and in the studio. And he is eager to explore new musical paths, while remaining faithful to his own style.
"I hope to hear some Chinese music on the tour and blend some elements into my next work and bring it to the European tour in the future," he said.
'Melting Pot'
Consisting of 40 musicians from 17 countries, the James Last Orchestra is truly a "melting pot" of musical talent and temperament.
The youngest band member is 17 years old while Last himself is 73. But there are never generation gap problems. The aim is to be a good team, not an exclusive club closed off to the outside world. Most members of the orchestras are also successful soloists, studio musicians or members of other famous orchestras.
The motor of the orchestra -- which calls itself the "most successful of the world" -- is undoubtedly the master himself. His power, hard work, creativity and perfectionism are legendary and an example to all.
When Last calls, either to do a recording in the studio or to take part in a tour, everyone comes running and other engagements are pushed aside. "We make studio recordings and tours like a big family," he said.
The bandleader thanks his big "family" in his own way. He writes musical arrangements for each one. "I can draw out everybody's talents. No one has to play something which does not fit his or her type."
Everyone can show off their special sound, every one gets a chance to shine -- that is the orchestra's philosophy.
Thus James Last shows that he not only has a special flair for selecting his songs but also, like a good sports coach, writes arrangements, which bring out the best in his team.
(China Daily September 23, 2002)
