Roger Whittaker learned his German songs phonetically and was very popular in Germany.
He died in the year eighty-seven Roger Whittaker British folk singer, “the Germans’ favorite Englishman”, who became world famous with such hits as Durham Townthe Mexican Whistler Or the farewell Confirm Bild.
Whittaker was born to English parents in Nairobi, Kenya. A love of music was a family trait, as his grandfather sang and his father played the violin. However, for a long time, he himself considered music merely as a hobby, and instead prepared for an academic career: he began his medical studies while still in Kenya. Meanwhile, he decided to become a teacher instead, and studied zoology, biochemistry and marine biology, earning his degree in Wales. In the end, he did not become a teacher or a doctor, because during his university years he took his passion for music to a more serious level, and began writing and performing folk songs in Welsh pubs, and was so captivated by the performing arts that he turned his back on science.
In addition to singing, Whittaker also drew attention for his excellent whistling skills, and he accompanied the whistle with guitar in many of his songs. This is how he achieved his first major achievement in 1967: A Mexican Whistler He was a leader in the top charts of three European countries. After two years, it really exploded Durham TownNall, who later said he never thought he would become such a hit.
Although he was known around the world, perhaps nowhere did he have such a loyal fan base as in Germany. Whittaker gained the admiration of the Germans primarily by singing in their language without first speaking a word of German himself. He transcribed German lyrics phonetically and learned German lyrics, and eventually the language as well. He had a large following in the country, made guest appearances on numerous shows, and released twenty-five German-language albums.
Whitaker sold more than fifty million records during a career that spanned half a century, and retired from active concerts in 2013.
