Wolfgang Petry

Wolfgang Petry – born September 22, 1951, in Cologne, Germany – is an award-winning schlager singer who scored several hits in the 1970s before achieving a great amount of success during a career resurgence in the 1990s. While studying for a degree in precision mechanics, he began his musical journey in the early 1970s when he formed his first band, Screamers. He was discovered in 1975 by producers Tony Hendrick and Karin Hartmann, who signed him to a record deal. Wolfgang Petry released his debut solo album, Ein Frund – Ein Mann, in 1976, which featured the hit single “Sommer in der Stadt.” He continued to release hit singles throughout the rest of the 1970s including “Ruby” (1977), “Gianna” (1978), “Wenn Ich Geh’” (1979), and “Mein Zuhaus” (1980). However, by the mid-1980s, the hits had dried up and Wolfgang Petry’s career appeared to be at an end. After several more years of touring and recording, things turned around with the release of the 1992 album Verlieben, Verloren, Vergessen, Verzeih’n and the single of the same name. A massive hit, the album caused a career resurgence that continued with the release of Alles (1996), a hits collection that became his first Number 1 album in his long career. His album Nie Genug (1997) climbed to Number 2 but was followed by two more Number 1 albums: Einfach Geil! (1998) and Konkret (2000). Wolfgang Petry’s fame reached outside of Germany, and he became a popular live act in Europe. Even though his career was still on a high, Wolfgang Petry announced his retirement in 2006. Eight years later, he re-emerged with the album Einmal Noch! – Das Neue Album 2014, a collection of re-interpretations of some of his past hits. Since then, he has released several successful albums including Brandneu (2015), Genau Jetzt! (2018), Einmal Noch! 2 (2020), Auf Das Leben (2021), and Stark Wie Wir (2023). During his career, Wolfgang Petry won many awards including five Best Folk / Pop Artist honors at the Echo Awards (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001), as well as a ten-time winner of the Golden Tuning Fork.