James Last

James Last (born Hans Last, * April 17, 1929 in Bremen; † June 9, 2015 in West Palm Beach, Florida) is a German composer and bandleader. He led the James Last Orchestra and shaped the big band / easy listening genre with the so-called "Happy Sound". Non Stop Dancing (1965) establishes his concept of short, danceable medleys. His orchestral arrangements focus on bass and brass. Many of his albums reach the charts in the long term and find an audience, particularly in the UK and Germany. James Last began as a jazz double bass player. He works as an arranger for Polydor. From the mid-1960s, he produced numerous albums and TV shows. Well-known albums include Non Stop Dancing, Games That Lovers Play (1967), With Compliments (1970) and Biscaya (1982). His composition "Games That Lovers Play" is interpreted internationally by other artists. James Last released over 190 records and sold very large numbers of copies worldwide. He continues to play concerts into old age and ends his career with a farewell tour in 2015. His repertoire includes originals, covers and orchestral arrangements of popular melodies. Important singles with chart impact are "The Seduction" (1980) and "Biscaya". His pieces are used in film soundtracks, such as "Lonely Shepherd" with Gheorghe Zamfir in the film Kill Bill Volume 1. Important awards include the MIDEM Trophy (1969), the Star of the Year Trophy from Music Week/Billboard (1976), the Carl Alan Award (1981), the ECHO Lifetime Achievement Award (1994) and the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1978). James Last died on June 9, 2015.