Will Glahé

Will Glahé (February 12, 1902 – November 21, 1989) was a German accordionist, composer, and bandleader.

Glahé was born at Elberfeld, Germany. In the 1930s, he was, along with Heinz Munsonius and Albert Vossen, one of the most successful accordionists in Germany. He led his own orchestra from 1932 and became successful particularly in popular music.

One of his most famous songs in Germany was his 1936 recording of "Rosamunde" (a German female forename), a cover version of the song "Škoda lásky" ("Wasted Love") by Jaromir Vejvoda. Under the title "Beer Barrel Polka", the tune hit No. 1 on the Hit Parade in the United States in 1939. It sold over one million copies by 1943, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA. After World War II he was known as the "Polka King" in the U.S., and did both big band and folk music arrangements with his orchestra.

His "Liechtensteiner Polka" was also a hit in the U.S., hitting No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1957. The follow-up single "Sweet Elizabeth" (1958) appeared in all major U.S. charts, nearing the top 40 in Cashbox and Music Vendor.

He had some success with "The Cuckoo Waltz" by Swede E. I. Jonasson in 1969, and the song is now used widely, in the Alice in Wonderland dark ride at Blackpool Pleasure Beach and in Efteling, Holland.

His album, Oktoberfest peaked at number 53 in Australia in 1973.

He died at Rheinbreitbach.

Birth and Death Data: Born February 12, 1902 (Elberfeld), Died November 21, 1989 (Rheinbreitbach)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1933 - 1939

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, accordion, composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 122 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Gramophone 0RA1302 10-in. 5/22/1936 In Sanssouci am Mühlenberg Metropol-Vokalisten ; Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble, with vocal group leader  
Gramophone 0RA1303 10-in. 5/22/1936 Die schöne Nachbarin Metropol-Vokalisten ; Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble, with vocal group leader  
Gramophone 0RA1608 10-in. 11/25/1936 Zurück zu Mariechen Favre-Quartett ; Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble, with vocal quartet leader  
Gramophone 0RA1609 10-in. 11/25/1936 Die Liebe ist schuld daran Favre-Quartett ; Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble, with vocal quartet leader  
Gramophone 0RA1685 10-in. 12/17/1936 In meinen Gedanken Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble leader  
Gramophone 0RA1826 10-in. 2/12/1937 Don Pedro Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble leader  
Gramophone 0RA1829 10-in. 2/12/1937 Das Fensterln in der Nacht Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader  
Gramophone 0RA1830 10-in. before 3/11/1938 Aber heut' sind wir fidel Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble, with vocal leader  
Gramophone 0RA1833 10-in. 2/17/1937 Oh primadonna Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble leader  
Gramophone 0RA1834 10-in. 2/17/1937 Neapolitanisches Ständchen (Fox trot intermezzo)) Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Gramophone 0D1837 10-in. 11/28/1933 Harmonijka polka Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Gramophone 0RA1838 10-in. 2/17/1937 Tändelei Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble, with accordion solo leader, instrumentalist, accordion  
Gramophone 0RA1839 10-in. 2/17/1937 Grillenhochzeit Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble, with accordion solo instrumentalist, accordion, composer, leader  
Gramophone 0RA1840 10-in. 2/17/1937 Hofkonzert im Hinterhaus Glahé Musette Orchestra ; Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble, with accordion solo leader, instrumentalist, accordion  
Gramophone 0RA1841 10-in. 2/17/1937 Kulleraugen Glahé Musette Orchestra Instrumental ensemble, with accordion solo leader, instrumentalist, accordion  
Gramophone 0RA1842 10-in. 12/17/1937 Auf der Harmonika Glahé Musette Orchestra ; Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble, with accordion solo leader, instrumentalist, accordion  
Gramophone 0RA1843 10-in. before 12/15/1937 Mulli Glahé Musette Orchestra ; Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble, with accordion solo leader, instrumentalist, accordion  
Gramophone 0RA1983 10-in. 5/4/1937 Baile de marineros Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble leader  
Gramophone 0D2047 10-in. 4/11/1934 Spanische Dorfmusik Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble, with vocal leader  
Gramophone 0D2049 10-in. 4/11/1934 Hein spielt abends so schön auf dem Schifferklavier Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble, with vocal leader  
Gramophone 0RA2327 10-in. 10/6/1937 Fahr mich in die Ferne, mein blonder Matrose Metropol-Vokalisten ; Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble, with vocal ensemble leader  
Gramophone 0RA2328 10-in. 10/16/1937 In München steht ein Hofbräuhaus Metropol-Vokalisten ; Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble, with vocal ensemble leader  
Gramophone 0RA2388 10-in. 10/27/1937 Du kannst von mir alles, alles haben Fritz Neumann ; Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader  
Gramophone 0RA2391 10-in. 10/28/1938 Husch, husch ins Körbchen Fritz Neumann ; Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader  
Gramophone 0RA2402 10-in. 11/2/1937 Alles tanzt Walzer Orchester Will Glahé Instrumental ensemble, with vocal group leader  
(Results 26-50 of 122 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Glahé, Will," accessed May 16, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107148.

Glahé, Will. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 16, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107148.

"Glahé, Will." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 16 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107148

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