Born: April 12th, 1944, Walburg, Hessisch Lichtenau (Germany)
Died: August 21st, 1997, Munich (Germany)
Nationality: German
In due course, the short impression below will be replaced with a more extensive career overview
BIOGRAPHY
Rainer Pietsch was born the son of a tenor and a music teacher. He learnt to play the bass, the guitar, the piano, the organ. In the 1960s, he was a member of various pop bands in Cologne; The Black Föös (Plack-Fizzles), The Band Beat Stones, and The Singing End. He made tours with renowned bands such as The Who, Herman’s Hermits, and The Fortunes. In 1969, Pietsch began working as a producer for bands such as Triumvirat and The Lords.
Later, he moved to Munich, where he became one of West Germany’s most sought-after studio arrangers and was contracted by the music production company of Ralph Siegel. In Munich, Pietsch worked as a producer and arranger for Michael Holm, Wind, Amanda Lear (‘Follow Me’), ELO, Queen, Patty Pravo, Peter Alexander, Nicole, and many more. Among the most successful songs he wrote himself are ‘Nur ein Kuss, Maddalena’ for Michael Holm and ‘C’est la vie’ for Karel Gott. All in all, in his relatively short life, Pietsch composed more than 500 songs and wrote over 2000 arrangements.
EUROVISION SONG CONTEST
Rainer Pietsch took part in the Eurovision Song Contest for West Germany three times, the first occasion being in 1975 with a song he had written himself: ‘Ein Lied kann eine Brücke sein’; Joy Fleming only managed to score a meagre 17th place with it in the international final in Stockholm, but the song became an evergreen in Germany and beyond. In Stockholm, Pietsch conducted his song in a most spectacular fashion.
In 1985 and 1990, Pietsch wrote the orchestrations to the songs ‘Für alle’ (composed by Hanne Haller and performed by Wind) and ‘Frei zu leben’ (composed by Ralph Siegel and performed by Chris Kempers & Daniel Kovac) and conducted the orchestra in the Eurovision Song Contest, with a second and a ninth place as respective results.
As the creator of the arrangement or part of the arrangement, Pietsch also had a hand in the 1986 and 1988 West German entries, 'Über die Brücke geh'n' and 'Lied für einen Freund', but the orchestras in the international final for these songs were conducted by Hans Blum and Michael Thatcher respectively.
EUROVISION INVOLVEMENT YEAR BY YEAR
Country – West Germany
Song title – “Ein Lied kann eine Brücke sein / Bridge Of Love”
Rendition – Joy Fleming
German lyrics – Michael Holm
English lyrics – Fred Jay
Composition – Rainer Pietsch
Studio arrangement – Rainer Pietsch
Live orchestration – Rainer Pietsch
Conductor – Rainer Pietsch
Score – 17th place (15 votes)
Country – West Germany
Song title – “Für alle”
Rendition – Wind (Alexander Heiler / Rainer Höglmeier / Willy Jakob / Sami Kalifa / Christiane von Kutzschenbach / Petra Scheeser)
Lyrics – Hanne Haller
Composition – Hanne Haller
Studio arrangement – Rainer Pietsch
Live orchestration – Rainer Pietsch
Conductor – Rainer Pietsch
Score – 2nd place (105 votes)
Country – West Germany
Song title – "Über die Brücke geh’n"
Rendition – Ingrid Peters
Lyrics – Hans Blum
Composition – Hans Blum
Studio arrangement – Rainer Pietsch
Live orchestration – Rainer Pietsch
Conductor – Hans Blum
Score – 8th place (62 votes)
Country – West Germany
Song title – “Lied für einen Freund”
Rendition – Maxi & Chris Garden
Lyrics – Bernd Meinunger
Composition – Ralph Siegel
Studio arrangement – Rainer Pietsch / Alfons Weindorf / László Bencker
Live orchestration – Michael Thatcher
Conductor – Michael Thatcher
Score – 14th place (48 votes)
Country – West Germany
Song title – “Frei zu leben”
Rendition – Chris Kempers / Daniel Kovac
Lyrics – Michael Kunze
Composition – Ralph Siegel
Studio arrangement – Ralph Siegel
Live orchestration – Rainer Pietsch
Conductor – Rainer Pietsch
Score – 9th place (60 votes)
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