Gitta Walther
Gitta Walther | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Jackie Robinson, Simone |
| Born | 14 June 1940 |
| Origin | Annaberg-Buchholz, East Germany |
| Died | 10 October 2014 (aged 74) |
| Occupation | Singer |
Gitta Walther was a German singer and author. She released many recordings under the pseudonyms Simone, Jackie Robinson and also Gitta McKay after her marriage to Scottish musician Don McKay.
Background and life
[edit]Gitta Walter was born as the daughter of a baker during World War II and grew up in East Germany after the war. There, she first appeared on stage as a singer at the age of 14. At the age of 16, she emigrated to West Germany.[1]
Once in Munich, West Germany, she was discovered by Werner Müller who accepted her into his orchestra. She went on to also sing in the orchestra of Ambros Seelos and Arno Flor. Since the mid-1960s, she was an active guest, studio and background singer for numerous bands and acts. In 1969, she joined Love Generation, where she met her future husband, Don Adams. She was later one of the session singers of the 1970s Silver Convention disco group. The famous scream in fellow group member Penny McLean's Lady Bump belongs to Walther.[2][dead link] Further, she was one of the backing singers for Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder and Joy Fleming.[3]
She would work with Fritz Muschler,[4] who also worked with disco group Ebony who recorded "Don't Boogie Mr. Tango.[5]
As a solo musician, she released her album "I'm Different" in 1976 under the name Jackie Robinson. It was a success in the United States and stayed on the Billboard Disco Charts for seven weeks.[6]
In 1980, she co-founded The Hornettes girl band, along with former Silver Convention singers Lucy Neale, Linda G. Thompson and Jackie Carter. The group was relatively successful.[7][dead link]
Career as Jackie Robinson
[edit]Moving Like a Superstar
[edit]Jackie Robinson recorded the Jean-Luc Drion Jack Donder composition, "Moving Like a Superstar" which was produced by Fritz Muschler. Backed with "Let Me Be" it was released on Ariola 89 749 XT in late 1975.[8]
On the week of 17 April 1976, "Movin Like a Superstar" was in five Billboard Disco Action charts.[9] It was also announced that week in Tom Moulton's Disco Mix column that Ariola America was rush releasing her album then called Moving Like a Superstar.[10]
On the week of 24 April, the single debuted at no. 25 in the Record World R&B Singles chart.[11] It was also at no. 12 in the Record World Disco File Top 20, [12] and on the Discotheque Hit Parade, Infinity New York playlist (DJ Bobby Guttadaro).[13]
On the week of 19 June, 1976. "Moving Like a Superstar" entered the RPM Top 100 singles chart at no. 100.[14] It made it to no. 82 on the week of 3 July.[15][16] In the US it would eventually make it to no. 10 on the Dance chart and no. 61 on the R&B chart.[17]
Album
[edit]Her album I'm Different was produced by Fritz Muschler and Paul Birmingham. Half of the songs on the album were composed by Muschler. It was reviewed in the 14 May 1977 issue of RPM Weekly. With the successes that Birmingham and Muschler had in the past, the reviewer said that Robinson should be receiving a warm welcome in Canada.[18]
Further activities
[edit]Robinson recorded "Warning - Danger" bw "Do You Really Wanna Go" which were released on single, Polydor 2001 827 in 1978. Both titles were composed and produced by Fritz Muschler and Paul Birmingham.[19][20]
Later years
[edit]In her final years, she lived in her hometown of Annaberg-Buchholz and sang locally.[21]
References
[edit]- ^ Oocities - The Girl Groups Fan Club, Gitta Walther
- ^ "11 Gikt behandling Home Remedies, effektiv medicin". 24 July 2021.
- ^ Discogs - Gitta Walther
- ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 27 No. 7 May 14, 1977 - Page 15 RPM New Albums, JACKIE ROBINSON I'm Different Direction DLD-10000-N
- ^ Hitparade.ch - Fritz Muschler, Songs von Fritz Muschler, Ebony Don't Boogie Mr. Tango, 1976 Komponist
- ^ Forced Exposure - JACKIE ROBINSON : I'm Different - CD -
- ^ Broadway World - The Hornettes Information and Concert Dates
- ^ Ultratop - Jackie Robinson – Moving Like A Superstar
- ^ Billboard, April 17, 1976 - Page 33 Disco Action
- ^ Billboard, April 17, 1976 - Page 36 Discos, Disco Mix By TOM MOULTON
- ^ Record World, April 24, 1976 - Page 34 THE R&B SINGLES CHART, APRIL 24, 1976, 75 - MOVIN' LIKE A SUPERSTAR, JACKIE ROBINSON-Ariola America 7618 (Capitol)
- ^ Record World, April 24, 1976 - Page 20 DISCO FILE TOP 20, 12. MOVIN' LIKE A SUPERSTAR JACKIE ROBINSON-Ariola America (disco version)
- ^ Record World, April 24, 1976 - Page 20 Discotheque Hit Parade, INFINITY/NEW YORK DJ: Bobby Guttadaro
- ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 25 No. 12 - June 19, 1976 - Page 24 RPM 100 Top Singles (51-100), 1012 .... (1) MOVING LIKE A SUPERSTAR Jackie Robinson IGM KV10-K
- ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 25 No. 14 - July 3, 1976 - Page 24 RPM 100 Top Singles (51-100) RPM 100 Top Singles (51-100), 1012 .... (1) MOVING LIKE A SUPERSTAR Jackie Robinson IGM KV10-K
- ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 25 No. 15 - July 10, 1976 - Page 30 RPM TOP 100 SINGLES ALPHABETICALLY BY TITLE
- ^ MusicVF.com - Movin' Like a Superstar By: Jackie Robinson
- ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 27 No. 7 May 14, 1977 - Page 15 RPM New Albums, JACKIE ROBINSON I'm Different Direction DLD-10000-N
- ^ Ultratop - Jackie Robinson – Warning - Danger
- ^ Ultratop - Jackie Robinson – Do You Really Wanna Go
- ^ MusicBrainz - Gitta Walther
External links
[edit]- Discogs - Jackie Robinson
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