Bert Kaempfert

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Bert Kaempfert (born Berthold Kämpfert; October 16, 1923 – June 21, 1980) was a German orchestra leader and songwriter. He made easy listening and jazz-oriented records, and wrote the music for a number of well-known songs, such as "Strangers in the Night" (originally recorded by Ivo Robić) and "Spanish Eyes".

He was born in Hamburg, Germany, and studied at the School of Music there. A multi-instrumentalist, he was hired by Hans Busch to play with his orchestra before serving as a bandsman in the German Navy during World War II. He later formed his own big band, toured with them, then worked as an arranger and producer, making hit records with Freddy Quinn and Ivo Robic. In 1961, he hired The Beatles to back Tony Sheridan in a session for Polydor. These turned out to be the Beatles' first commercial recordings. Beatles manager Brian Epstein asked Kaempfert about further promoting The Beatles, but Kaempfert informed Epstein that the company was only interested in The Beatles as Tony Sheridan's backup group. (It also turned out British Decca executive Dick Rowe turned them down in favor of local beat combo Brian Poole and the Tremeloes.) They were then released from their contract with Polydor.

Kaempfert's own first hit with his orchestra had been in 1960, with "Wonderland by Night". Many of his tunes became better known as hits for other artists: