Who Is Max Raabe?
Max Raabe, born Matthias Otto on December 12, 1962, is a German jazz singer and the founder and leader of the Palast Orchester.
Raabe’s musical journey began with his infatuation with the sound of 1920s and 1930s German dance and film music, particularly the songs of the Comedian Harmonists.
Watching classic films on television and listening to his parent’s record collection inspired his curiosity.
Raabe pursued his musical love by studying at the Berlin University of the Arts, initially aspiring to be a baritone opera singer. Raabe founded the Palast Orchester with eleven other students in 1985.
Initially, the ensemble played with music arrangements bought from flea markets by Raabe. The orchestra spent a year practicing these arrangements with no public appearances or concerts.
The Palast Orchester made their first public performance in 1987, as a backup act in the lobby of the Berliner Theaterball.
Their performance, however, was so well appreciated that the audience left the ballroom to hear them perform.
As a result of this achievement, the orchestra gained a reputation and appeal. Raabe and the Palast Orchester had a hit with their original Schlager-style song “Kein Schwein ruft mich an” (“Nobody ever calls me”) in 1992.
Raabe writes and performs original songs and film music in addition to playing renditions of historical music.
He has also converted recent pop tunes, including hits by Britney Spears, Tom Jones, and Salt’n’Pepa, into a 1920s-1930s band sound. Raabe has also appeared in various German films as archetypal singers and entertainers from the 1920s and 1930s.
Raabe’s abilities have carried him beyond Germany, with engagements in Los Angeles in 2004 and his first concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City in 2005. He has continued to enchant audiences in a variety of international settings.
Raabe has published a number of CDs over the course of his career, demonstrating his diverse musicality and fondness for old sounds. “Küssen kann man nicht alleine” (2011) and “Für Frauen ist das kein Problem” (2013), both developed in partnership with former new-wave singer and producer Annette Humpe, are notable albums.
In 2022, Raabe appeared as himself in the popular 1920s neo-noir series “Babylon Berlin,” performing a tune named “Ein Tag wie Gold.”
His appearance in the series cemented his reputation as a master of reproducing the musical ambiance of the 1920s and 1930s.
Max Raabe’s career has been defined by his love of restoring and reinterpreting vintage music. He continues to enchant audiences across the world with the Palast Orchester’s distinctive blend of nostalgia, musicianship, and flair for bringing the past to life via song.
Is Max Raabe Married?
No, Max Raabe is not married as there is no report or information to ascertain that Max Raabe has a wife.
max is currentky very much focused on his career as a German jazz singer and the founder and leader of the Palast Orchester.
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