Hugo Strasser

Hugo Strasser was a German jazz and swing clarinetist and bandleader born on April 7, 1922, in Munich-Schwabing. At age seven, Strasser performed the piece “Großmütterchen” on the harmonica for a radio broadcast. Strasser attended the Staatliche Akademie der Tonkunst from 1938. During World War II, Strasser performed in military bands in Stettin and the Ruhr region. Following the war, Strasser performed in clubs for United States soldiers and joined the Max-Greger-Sextett in 1949. Strasser performed with Jutta Hipp at the German Jazz Festival in 1954. In 1955, Strasser formed the 16-member Orchester Hugo Strasser. The ensemble utilized a sound where the clarinet doubled the first trumpet an octave lower. Strasser produced the album series Tanzplatte des Jahres from 1966 to 1996. Since 2000, Strasser toured with Max Greger and Paul Kuhn as the Swing-Legenden. Strasser gave a final performance on February 28, 2016. Strasser died on March 17, 2016, in Munich-Trudering.